Kathryn's eulogy at Jean's funeral

Dear all,

This is Kathryn's eulogy as far as she can remember it, which she dedicated to Jean at her funeral.

Kathryn is Ross's ex-wife and knew Jean for some decades.

JEAN BENBOW

Jean was feisty, robust, impulsive, strong willed, determined, energetic, funny, contemplative, skilled, hardworking – and unique. Some of her expressions are well known to us.

We’ve sampled “German stew” and many slices of “Double Mary” (a cake recipe bequeathed by an acquaintance, Mary, but, in Jean’s case, the quantities doubled of course).

She shared several of her recipes with me. In one the method went this way; “You add …., then beat the living daylights out of it!”

Surprising, and not especially useful, directions given to a city slicker were; “When you reach X’s cow shed then it’s 16 chain further north!”

Jean, of course, was a rock hound.

She loved telling her “bones stories”  Once I thought she was talking about a close neighbour only to find out that the person had died in the 1800s and was one of her “bones”.

Jean, Gwen, Ollie and Cynthia treasured the close relationships they shared with each other – more like loving sisters and loved friends rather than just sisters-in-law.  These women supported each other through some very tough times, celebrated with each other often joyfully and enjoyed great belly laughs together over cuppas.  Their relationships were expressed through generous, loving kindness and gutsy, practical care, being there for each other in whatever ways they could, even when distance separated them.

Jean loved the outdoors and was a skilled gardener, a legacy that was passed down to her from her mother and, in turn, she has bequeathed a feel for the environment, plants and soils to her children.  Jean didn’t “do gardening” – she was a gardener who worked in partnership with the many different environments that she lived with.  No two gardens were alike but plants flourished and were  beautiful due to her knowledge, touch and hard work.

Her passion for her gardens was evident when we visited Jean and Fred. Before we’d even said “Hello” Jean and Ross would disappear for a couple of hours to inspect and discuss each plant’s progress, diagnose and recommend action and only then was it time to come inside.  Similar rituals occurred when my mother and Jean caught up with each other – they would disappear into their gardeners’ heaven for hours.

There was another first night ritual on our family visits to the Gorae West Benbow home. Kids would be fed and put to bed, dinner was served and Jean washed the dishes while tea was still in progress.  Dishes and cutlery were whipped away to be washed before you’d swallowed your last mouthful.  IT WASN’T EXACTLY RESTFUL, BUT IT WAS EFFICIENT!  Fred would then move to the lounge and seat himself on the beanbag in front of the TV, the glass doors were closed, then began the real purpose of the day.  The round up of the “goss” from the town took place around the kitchen table, broken only for a short intermission for supper and cuppas, and when Fred appeared and growled, “Aren’t you coming to bed?”  Those sessions were not for the fainthearted, they’d go until two or three in the morning!  And when they got onto politics -!  I called them “The Razor Gang” because they shredded politicians’ reputations.

Many of us have enjoyed wearing garments – socks, jumpers, cardigans – valiantly knitted by Jean in limited light at times, while Fred, hatted, sat on his beanbag to protect his eyes from the powerful glare of the standard lamp!

[Jean was also a good embroiderer, and smocked beautiful nighties for Nicholas and Anna when they were bubs.]

Music was in Jean’s bloodsteam but she was very particular with her likes and dislikes.  At times she found solace playing hymns on her organ for hours.

When Fred needed nursing care at home, Jean found a bittersweet comfort in her new role.  She had always wanted to be a nurse and finally her dream had come true, although not in the way she hoped for nor expected.  She found a new dignity and purpose, and even joy, in the midst of hard and often quite difficult work, and she was a top nurse – compassionate, skilled and confident.

She lives on in so many stories, so many rich memories, we could go on for ever …… those you hold are just as important as these ……

THANK YOU JEAN.

Kathryn Richards

20th May, 2014

Ross.....and painting ...la peinture

Hi all,

Ross has received messages of condolence from various people.

Unfortunately as he is busy painting a room, he hasn't had time to respond to anyone...in fact he's barely had time to read his emails.

He has asked me to convey his appreciation and he hopes to write something about his mum, Jean over the next couple of weeks or so.

Chers amis, Ross a reçu les condoléances de nombreuses personnes.  Il est en train de peindre notre chambre, et n'a pas eu le temps de répondre...en fait il n'a guère eu le temps de lire ces mails.

Il m'a demandé de vous exprimer son appréciation et il espère écrire un article sur sa mère (blog) dans les quelques semaines qui viennent.

Jean Benbow

Chers amis,

Pour ceux qui connaissent Ross, je vous écris pour annoncer le décès de sa mère Jean, le 22 avril, 2014. 

Hi everyone,

For those of you who know Ross, I am writing to inform you of his mother's passing Tuesday 22nd April, 2014.

The funeral service took place at the funeral parlour at Portland, attended by nearly forty people.

Ross took the service which was secular as Jean was not religious and did not believe in the "after life". With Ross were his brother, Des and his sister, Rhonda along with other family members.

People were invited to say something....but country people are, according to Rhonda, quite reticent on such occasions.....one cousin however, did say a few words.

Ross read a tribute from our friend Liz and Alan read a tribute on my behalf. Kathryn spoke about Jean and in particular about her love of gardening. 

Hopefully Ross will write a few words about his mum shortly.

In the meantime this is my tribute to Jean:

(Just so you understand my last line, Jean and Fred used to fossick for gem stones...which they loved).

Good old Jeannie what can I say about her?

Jean was practical!!

It's probably fair to say that she was not as romantic as the Hollywood stars of the 40's....she had practical matters to attend to. Despite these practicalities, she was a warm lady and a most loquacious person.....(a bit like a certain aunty of mine).....when Jean was well, she could talk for hours.  When I met Jean in the late 90's she was quite sociable....this did wane in recent times...

Jean had some ways about her which were very foreign TO ME in terms of how a woman should behave.....drowning ferrel cats, and clubbing a snake on the head...

I grew up in the city...all the women around me were dainty and refined.....or at least they thought they were....

I have heard stories about Jean looking out the kitchen window and seeing the imminent arrival of visitors on the horizon. I am told that scones would be made and thrown in the oven before the guests had even rung the doorbell !!!

Jean loved her garden; when living in Dennington, Warrnambool, her last home prior to moving into the nursing home, she developed quite a large garden ...I believe she loved irises most of all.

This was one area in which Jean preferred to abandon the practicalities of vegetable growing in favour of flowers--simply to look at and for their scent. She wasn't rapt in green vegetables anyway....she hated broccoli !!!!!!!! and cooked her beans for at least 40 minutes....till they were grey.

Good old Jean....she was a good stick, a country girl, straightforward, ...no fuss, no bullshit.....
If she liked you, she liked you; if she didn't, she didn't. Nothing convoluted or surreptitious about our Jean....an admirable trait which is present, I feel, in the whole Benbow clan.

I hope you're at peace Jean and having a good time wherever you are.
May you find some lovely gem stones.

All my love

David



Sent from my iPad

Jean Isabella Benbow

Jean Isabella Benbow (née Finck)

25/09/1927-22/04/2014

Photo of Jean and grandson Eddie mid 2013

Lunch!!!

Hi all,

What a busy couple of weeks!!!

Firstly last Saturday, we went out with friends for lunch at Oscar's in Warburton. The food was delicious and the flavours were a little middle eastern...quite aromatic and interesting.

Qu'est-ce qu'on est occupé ces dernier temps...

La semaine dernière nous avons très bien mangé dans un bon restaurant à Warburton.

Il faut en profiter un peu, car ça devient de plus en difficile de manger "dehors".

I can't help feeling that my eating-out days are really numbered, so it was nice to have such an enjoyable experience. It's also dear to eat out...can't do it too often. 

I had lovely slow cooked pork for entrée (not what the bloody Americans call entrée...dills that they are!!!) followed by an absolutely beautiful vego dish with egg plant, houmous, a capsicum panna cotta and some gorgeous deep fried capers which were amazing. In the past I would never have ordered vego for a main....not that I'm against vegetables....just a natural carnivore, but unless the meat is falling apart it's very difficult now.

En entrée j'ai pris le porc qui était juteux, et croustillant en même temps. Délicieux mais un tout petit plus de temps aurait rendu la peau plus croustillante...car elle était un peu caoutchouteuse. 

J'ai choisi végétarien comme plat principal, pour éviter des viandes insuffisament tendres.....c'était excellent...très savoureux et très imaginatif comme plat.

Ross had an amazing curried pea soup with rabbit,  followed by tenderloin beef which he loved. Maybe we'll send you some pictures.  Unfortunately, I don't seem to be able to cut and paste the recipes. 

Ross a pris la soupe en entrée une soupe de petit pois parfumé au curry et au lapin. Il s'en est extasié!!!!

Please see:

Voir ci-dessous:

http://www.oscarsontheyarra.com.au/pdfs/menu_alacarte.pdf

On Sunday we went to some friends for a "musical" afternoon which was lovely and Rachel made a clafoutis aux cerises which was delicious.

Dimanche passé nous avons passé un très agréable après-midi chez des amis et Rachel a fait un clafoutis aux cerises qui était très bon.

During the past week or two, I've been busy emailing people about curtain rails and curtains (shower) for our main bathroom....what a drag! We should have fitted curtains when it was being built....now I have to do everything by email and there are dozens of them....I'm quite exhausted from it....it's not fun having to do EVERYTHING by email. And a rail fixed to the ceiling with a curve in it ain't cheap!!!  I won't go into it.

Ça fait quelques semaines qui j'envoie et que je reçois un tas de mails à la recherche d'un rail et d'un fabriquant de rideaux pour notre salle de bains principale. Chose que j'aurais dû faire au moment des rénovations. Tous ces emails...c'est épuisant....mais je n'ai pas le choix. Et la rail...ça coûte la peau des fesses!!!

Jean, Ross's mum is slipping. I believe she's stopped eating and Rhonda (Ross's sister) rang a couple of days ago to say that she's had a stroke....so her days are numbered. We may go to see Jean on Tuesday after a series of appointments at Calvary care for my "stuff". Jean's in Portland....it's like going to the moon!!!!

Jean, la mère a Ross a eu une attaque l'autre jour. elle refuse de manger et elle n'en a sûrement pas pour longtemps.  On va lui rendre visite mardi prochain après une journée "médicale" relative à ma condition.  Il faut se rendre à Portland....c'est pas la porte à côté.

In between all these events more problems with out hot plate (intermittent functioning) which I really don't need.

En plus de ça on a encore des problèmes avec nos plaques à induction qui marchent de manière intermittente.

Have to choose a paint colour for the new bedroom (old workshop), as Ross will paint it when he gets a minute.

Faut choisir une couleur pour les murs de notre "nouvelle" chambre à coucher que Ross va peindre entre toutes les autres besognes.....

Moving on.....Ross organised a very lovely surprise for me on Good Friday.

En avant.....Ross a organisé une très belle surprise pour moi vendredi saint.

As it turns out the winner of Master Chef 2013, Emma Dean (for some reason Emma always includes her last name when referring to herself.....perhaps trying to stave off the onset of Alzheimer's disease).

is a very good friend of Anna's (Ross's daughter) and was bridesmaid at their wedding. 

Il arrive que la championne de master chef 2013, Emma Dean (qui s'appelle toujours ainsi citant son nom de famille...sûrement pour retarder l'arrivée de la maladie d'alzheimer) est très proche d'Anna. Emma faisait partie des filles d'honneur au mariage de Peter et Anna.

Ross organised for Emma to come and cook a sumptuous meal in our kitchen and she brought with her, not only her lovely English partner Dan, who is such a nice fellow, but also runner up Lynton (master chef), a delightful carnivore from the N.T.  Lynton helped Emma all day, (except when he was boozing) and seemed happy with the kitchen. He was mesmerised with my scales and photographed them. They are old fashioned scales...weights on one side and a dish on the other NOTHING TO BREAK DOWN......very necessary in this day and age....so remember everyone, just because it's old doesn't mean that it ain't good! 

Ross a arrangé pour qu'elle vienne faire à manger pour moi et sa famille. Elle a ammené Lynton son adversaire dans les finales de Master Chef pour lui donner un coup de main. Lynton carnivore dévoué des territoires du Nord n'a pas cessé de travailler toute la journée (sauf quand il buvait). Il était ébloui par ma balance ancienne.....qui ne tombe jamais en panne. Un récipient d'un côté et des poids de l'autre...impecc!!! Tout ça pour dire qu'une chose peut être vieille et bonne.

Emma a fait des créations de son livre de cuisine.

Emma made recipes from her cook book. 

Hors d'oeuvre:

Gougères au fromage bleu

Veloûté de céléri-rave, garni de truffe noire et cerfeuil

Celeriac soup finished with black truffle and chervil

Quelques patates et du pain à l'ail comme "goûter"....création "Dan"

Some potatoes and garlic bread for afternoon tea...created by Dan.

Beef cheek braised with cardamom and vanilla bean.

Joue de boeuf parfumée à la vanille et au cardamom

Gateau mousse aux framboises.

The gougères were delicious...first lot a bit undercooked perhaps but unctuous...

Next lot held their shape but drier....better appearance, but both lovely.

Les gougères étaient très bonnes, les premières étant moins cuites mais très onctueuses et les suivantes plus sèches mais tout aussi bonnes.

Soup was outstanding...very simple clean flavours....quite a "fresh" soup.

Le véloûté était excellent. Simple, rafraîchissant délicieux.

Beef cheek was very nice....vanilla...a new flavour for me with beef...very nice but slightly foreign.

Hilarious to see that they had anticipated serving the beef cheek at about 3.30.....anyway it was ready at 7.30....I did tell Emma.....no way that'll be cooked....forget it....come and have some wine.

Le boeuf à la vanille...une nouvelle expérience pour moi...bonne....mais un peu extra-terrestre.

J'avais dit à Emma que les joues ne seraient pas prêtes pour 15 h 30.... On les a bouffées à 19h 30.

And booze we did. Ross had 1/2 glass all day...Kathryn...none--she's very Christian.....(but didn't Jesus drink wine?) so there were 10 adults remaining and we drank 12 bottles!!! Bloody piss pots!!

On a bien bu !!! bande d'ivrognes que nous sommes...  Ross n'a bu qu'un demi verre toute la journée et Kathryn...rien.....(la bonne chrètienne, mais n'est-ce pas que Jésus aimait picoler??)

It was a really lovely day and very strange to have others in my kitchen....

A nice strangeness, but most unusual....Oh well a bit of fame never hurt....celebrities in the house.

On a passé une très belle journée....quelque peu bizarre d'avoir dans gens dans ma cuisine mais bizarre pour les meilleures raisons. Et des gens célèbres...ça ne fait pas de mal vous savez!!!!

Before I say adieu, I need to tell you a story.

Avant de vous quitter il faut que je vous raconte:

Last year Anna and Peter were visiting with Dan, Emma's man. Emma was in master chef "lock down" as the finals approached. She rang while Dan was here, (during her 20 minute per week timeslot which Master Chef grants to contestants) exhausted...what am I going to feed them?? was the BIG question on her mind (for the grand final). Dan asked, "any ideas?"

I said, "nothing dainty, nothing Japanese, they're all fat pigs (the judges)...feed them fat, caramel and crunch...."

"...feed 'em hazelnuts, honey and thyme..."

And so Emma did....we were away in the U.K. at the time of the finals, but I believe she made a chicken dish with a hazelnut, honey and thyme granola....

AND SHE WON!!!!!

Sure Emma did the cooking but I did offer the idea, so I sort of won Master Chef 2013.....this story is true...not a concoction.

Call it a covert form of fame....now made overt....

See you next time everyone. I've had it!

 

L'an passé lors d'une visite de Peter, Anna, Eddie et Dan, le partenaire d'Emma, Dan a reçu un coup de fil de sa chérie. Il était permis aux concurrents de téléphoner une fois par semaine, mais la conversation ne pouvait pas dépasser les 20 minutes. Epuisée, à bout de force et arrivée aux finales elle demande..."qu'est-ce que je vais cuisiner...que faire pour gagner?"

Dan nous pose la question...

Je réponds....rien de fin, rien de japonais....ce sont tous de gros porcs (les juges). 

Donne-leur de la graisse, du caramel et du croquant.....

Des noisettes, miel et thym.....c'est ce qu'il leur faut...

Selon Dan cette Idée l'a ranimée et elle a fait un plat de poulet avec un croquant se servant de ces ingrédients....

ET ELLE A GAGNÉ!!!!

C'est sûr que c'est pas moi qui ai cuisiné ce jour-là mais tout de même l'idée est venue de moi...donc, on pourrait dire en quelque sorte que j'ai plus ou moins gagné master chef 2013. C'est pas des blagues tout ça. Sans déconner....

Ma renommée jadis couverte est désormais ouverte!!

A la prochaine mes amis.

Back again

Hi everyone,

Some time has passed since our last posting.

A bit's been happening.

Poor Ross had to have his second hernia operation--the first was was keyhole surgery but the 2nd needed to be standard open surgery. There was a reaction with the webbing and he ended up with a lot of pain and bruising, nothing like his initial operation which went by almost unnoticed. He also had blue balls for a while...not very picturesque.

Pauvre Ross s'est fait opérer d'une hernie récemment, la 2ème opération de ce type. La première s'était bien passée mais la deuxième était beaucoup plus douleureuse, et l'a laissé avec des bleus de partout. En plus il avait des couilles violettes...pas très jolie comme image.

A couple of weeks later I went to hospital to have a PEG fitted while my respiratory function is still adequate. This will allow for liquid feeding if feeding becomes too difficult. I'm slowly getting used to the thing protruding from my stomach, but I can't say I'm thrilled about its presence. For the moment I can still eat enough, but food must be wet and soft as a rule. Chops and steaks are out and even sausages can be a bit dry. I can still manage roasted nuts, but I don't know for how long. We are using the PEG for hydration at present...helps keep my plumbing (both ends) in good order.

Quelques semaines plus tard, je me suis rendu à l'hôpital où ils m'ont mis un tube gastrique au cas où je ne pourrais pas manger assez oralement à l'avenir.  Je me fais à la présence du tube, mais je n'en suis pas ravi. Pour l'instant je m'alimente suffisament mais en général la nourriture doit être bien liquide et très tendre. Les noix passent encore, mais pour combiens de temps?  Les steacks et les cotelettes sont finis...même les saucisses peuvent être seches. Pour l'instant cette sonde sert à l'hydratation et ça facilite le transit intestinal. Ça fait pisser aussi!

I'm certainly getting much more tried now and my speech has slipped enormously. I no longer speak on the phone.

Je suis de plus en plus fatigué maintenant et mon parler a beaucoup chuté. Je ne réponds plus au téléphone.

Pour changer de sujet....on mange des betteraves, des haricots verts et des pois mange-tout de notre jardin. A notre grande surprise nos tomates mûrissent et sont très bonnes. Elle ne vont sûrement pas toutes mûrir mais il faut se contenter de ce qu'on a. On a récolté des noisettes...et je suis au comble de joie. Il n'y en a pas beaucoup mais c'est mieux qu'un coup de pieds au cul.

We're eating beetroots, beans, snow peas et tomatoes from our garden. The tomatoes won't all ripen, but still...it's lovely to have some. We harvested some hazelnuts...wonderful.  Not a huge quantity but better than a kick in the arse!

Our grandchildren are growing up. Both Eddie and Audrey celebrated their first birthdays recently.

They're noisy little buggers. Audrey was up here recently and after being given omelette by Mum. She stuffed one handful in her face and threw three on the floor. I asked, "is that normal???" Yes I was told.

Thank God we're not English....no bloody carpets, just floorboards..at least that's something.

Les petits enfants grandissent et ont célébré leur premier anniversaire récemment. Qu'est-ce qu'ils sont bruyants!!

La petite Audrey était ici voilà quelques semaines. Maman lui a donné de l'omelette. Elle en mange une bouchée et jette trois fois plus par terre. Heureusement qu'on n'est pas anglais....pas de moquette chez nous!!!

I had my lovely cousins and my brother visit here from Israel and England respectively. They came out for Jason my nephew's wedding.

Had the wedding last Sunday...lovely weather. Hundreds of people and lots of prayers...(how unusual)

Limor, the bride looked beautiful and Jason scrubbed up well. The Chuppah (Jewish wedding ceremony) took place in the Rippon Lea gardens, and the reception was in Kensington....a long way from Caulfield!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is most surprising that the Jewish cars didn't get lost!!  I must say that on this occasion the kosher food was good, as good as kosher food can be, given that you can't have milk products with meat and that there is no bacon. Chocolate pudding for dessert....how do you do that without milk???  Perhaps best not to ask...

Mes cousins d'israël et mon frère sont venus pour le mariage de mon neveu Jason à sa belle Limor.

La Chuppah (cérémonie réligieuse) a eu lieu sur les pelouses de Rippon Lea et il a fait tres beau.

Le grand spectacle a continué au soir à Kensington, bien loin de Caulfield (le quartier juif). C'est presque étonnants que les voitures juives ne se soient pas égarées.... La bouffe malgré l'absence de produits laitiers et de cochon était quand-même assez bonne. Mais il y avait une crème patissière au chocolat comme dessert...comment faire ça sans lait....par quoi peut-on remplacer le lait dans une crème cuite?  J'aimerais bien le savoir...

At present we have Kel our floor layer installing a new floor in what used to be my workshop. We had chipboard down, which has been removed and is being replaced by Tassie oak.  Kel is a great guy...he sanded and polished our living room floor some years ago. He is a strict vegetarian...probably unusual for a tradie and great to chat with. Nice to see that there are some normal Americans around. He's from California and he doesn't even have a gun...what's wrong with him?  Perhaps he should consult a psychiatrist??

A présent ce qui fut mon atelier (en fait une chambre à coucher) est en train d'être rénové. Kel, le parqueteur est en train de mettre un nouveau plancher car on avait de l'aggloméré avant. Kel est très gentil...c'est lui qui s'est occupé de toute la finition de notre living voilà quelques années. C'est un végétarien....pas commun chez les ouvriers. C'est bien d'avoir un Americain chez nous sans revolver!!!

En fait...je me fais du soucis...qu'est-ce qu'il a? Peut-être devrait-il consulter un psychiatre??

Fin décembre--mi-janvier

IIt's January 10, 2014.  After a freezing wet December, the hot weather has suddenly hit us!  It's ridiculous to think that we had our heating on a few days ago and now we're boiling. However, it's still possible that in a couple of weeks the weather could go cool again--that's Melbourne.

Après un décembre glacial, la chaleur est enfin arrivée d'un coup. Mais c'est toujours possible que d'ici quelques semaines, on se gèle les couilles de nouveau....ça c'est Melbourne.

A few days ago Kathryn and Alan (Ross's ex-wife and her husband) came and stayed with us and cooked all meals for a couple of days so that we could finally!!!! empty what was my workshop. It was an enormous help not having to do food or dishes.

For those who don't know, my workshop was actually an extra bedroom within the house and quite generous in size. Now that the old workshop's nearly empty and we can start to think about converting it into a bedroom. More decisions and unfortunately more expenditure. It was very depressing for me to walk into a room which I could no longer use, so as it takes on a new identity and least I can gradually disassociate myself from its former role.

Tools have been moved to a shed outside which is good. 

Kathryn et Alan l'ex femme de Ross et son mari sont restés chez nous voilà quelques jours. Ils ont fait toute la cuisine et toute la vaiselle, ce qui nous a permis de vider ce qui fut mon atelier. Leur aide était très appreciée. La pièce qui servait d'atelier fait partie de la maison. On va la convertir en chambre-à-coucher pour les invités. J'ai trouvé très difficile d'entrer dans cette pièce cette dernière année, mais espérons que cela deviendra de plus en plus facile à mesure que cette pièce prend une identité nouvelle. Les outils dont j'ai encore besoin sont maintenant logés dans un abri à l'extérieur.

Just before Christmas Helen, a dear friend came and stayed with us. We had good weather and she helped us a lot in the garden. We had a lovely time together and we three went to Ross's church for the Christmas Eve service.  Helen and I were the only Jews there.........apart from Jesus of course!!!

Juste avant Noël une chère amie, Hélène est venue rester chez nous. Il a fait beau et nous avons travaillé dans le jardin. On s'est bien amusés. La veille de Noël nous sommes allées à l'église tous les trois. Hélène et moi nous étions les seule Juifs présents, à part le petit Jésus, bien sûr!!

It was quite a nice service, but a bit of a sham for me...they didn't sing "Away in a Manger" or "oh come all 'ye faithful" so it seemed weird to me. Other friends of ours from Upper Ferntree Gully joined us later at home. Bree brought a lovely ginger bread tree and she entertained us on her guitar, which was most enjoyable!  (She sings a lot of Dolly Parton songs). 

A la messe, il manquait certains chants de Noël....j'ai trouvé un peu "vide".

We spent Christmas at home in the garden again. Helen left on the 26th and we had Ross's family here and our friend Liz (Pussy) on the 27th for a barbecue. For meat we had German sausages from the German butcher in Boronia--tasty, but terribly German (solid)!! We marinated lamb chops in a concoction of which the main ingredient was oyster sauce. Also marinated pork spare ribs in a nice Thai curry paste and slow cooked for some hours in the oven so that it would be tender. Meats were marinated for a couple of days. We fed the crowd our usual beetroot salad (with a balsamic/orange dressing) which is very nice. Potato salad (made the day before to take the pressure off) and for dessert, a trifle in which I forget to put jelly. However!! It was lovely, so I don't think I'll bother with jelly in the future. 

On a passé Noël chez nous. Hélène est partie le 26, et le 27 toute la famille à Ross est venue manger y compris une très bonne amie Liz. J'ai fait un barbeque avec des saucisses, cotelettes, et porc le tout acheté chez le boucher allemand. Très bon mais très allemand (des saucisses bien solides!) j'ai fait macérer les cotelettes dans une marinade dont l'ingrédient principal était la sauce d'huîtres. Le porc était macéré dans des épices thailandaises et cuit dans un four moyen pour obtenir un plat tendre et juteux.  J'ai fait macérer les viandes pendant deux jours. 

On a fait deux salades...une salade de patates (avec mayonnaise fait maison tout préparé la veille) et une aux betteraves dans laquelle on a mis une sauce à base de vinaigre balsamique, huile d'olives et Cointreau. 

Pour le dessert j'ai fait une charlotte et j'ai oublié la gelée....mais tant mieux. Que c'était bon!  Donc plus de gelée pour moi. D'abord j'ai fait une crème cuite que j'ai parfumée au Cointreau. Une fois refroidir, j'ai mis de la crème chantilly pour "alléger". Pour les fruits j'ai fait pocher des abricots dans du champagne, de la cannelle et quelques clous de girofle et un peu de menthe coupée très fine.  Après cuisson, une fois tiède j'ai mis des framboises (de notre jardin!!). On s'est servi du liquide pour plonger les biscuits de Savoie. Très bon résultat. (Il faut toujours tremper son biscuit non!) On a passé une très bonne journée ensemble.

First I made a custard which I later perfumed with Cointreau. When cold, we folded in some whipped cream. We slowly poached some apricots in champagne, spiced with cloves and cinnamon and a little chopped mint. Then added home grown raspberries after it had cooled a little. Later, we took some of this juice, added a bit of grog and dipped the sponge fingers in it before placing them in the trifle dish.

It was a very nice dessert. All in all a good day was had by all.

On the 29th two of my brothers, my nephew and one of my former clients brought lunch up which was very nice. The weather was good too.

Le 29 deux de mes frères, mon neveu et l'une de mes anciennes clientes sont venus chez nous avec le déjeûner. C'était bien et il a fait beau aussi.

Since then we've been fiddling around at home. There's so much to do, and I have so little energy. On top of this Ross has sciatica at present which is not much fun.

Depuis toutes ces fêtes, on fait des trucs chez nous....il y à tant à faire et j'ai si peu d'énergie. En plus Ross a mal au dos à présent (la sciatique).

We're presently battling with our fruit trees...peach, nectarine and apricot... Many peaches are rotting on the tree. This could be due to the excessive rain in Nov/Dec, or it could be caused by a disease. We're going to visit the nursery from which we bought the trees to try and decide whether we persevere or pull them out.

On lutte avec les arbres fruitiers....pécher, brugnon et abricotier, dont les fruits soit ne mûrissent pas soit finissent par moisir. On va se renseigner avant de prendre la décision de les garder ou de les enlever une fois pour toutes.

On top of all this I broke a tooth yesterday, and probably need a crown...it's all a bit of a pain, and not such a clear decision as chewing is becoming more and more difficult. I sort of wonder whether it's worth spending the $2000 or so on something of which the use is going to be very limited by my health

Par dessus le marché j'ai cassé une dent, et il me faudra sûrement une dent sur pivot. Cette décision est rendue encore plus difficile non seulement par le coût mais aussi par le fait que ma santé se détériore. Je ne pourrai sûrement m'en servir que pendant un temps très limité comme ça devient de plus en plus difficile à mastiquer.

To finish on a better note, tomorrow we're going to hot Brunswick to celebrate Eddie's 1st birthday.

Hope we don't expire.

Pour mieux finir, demain on descend sur Melbourne pour fêter le premier anniversaire d'Eddie, notre petit fils. Espérons qu'il ne fera pas trop chaud!