2012 The lap begins locally

amazing sunrise

push bikes in tow





the best view




the beach





Box Head

Hot Air Ballooning

My long awaited balloon adventure. Finally happened after waiting 10yrs & two cancellations for previous attempts. highly recommended I look forward to other opportunities to do it again. Thankyou to my beautiful husband for such a wonderful birthday present xx

Champagne at the end of our Balloon flight, balloon rolled away & basket loaded. Thanks John & Melissa for a memorable experience.






Landed safely we await the ground crew.

Up Up & Away

Some Flame to take us higher

Inside the balloon the steering explained.

Early morning over the Hunter Valley

Sunrise 22/12/11

From Hot Air Balloon

Some vineyards green for the abundance of rain, could make for a lovely wine, keep your taste buds ready.

Ready for take-off

Balloon inflated, hop in the basket

Setting up the tracking software

A bit of heat to inflate the balloon

Holding the envelope open to let the fans fill up the balloon.

Balloon unrolled waiting to be filled

Basket for the balloon ride

Meeting at Crowne Plaza Cessnock ready for Balloon ride

Be excited and healthy on the inside just like me

Have been using this Raw Vegan product for a few weeks now and it is soooh goood.

According to the manufacturers it was created to nourish and alkalise your body with the most potent and nutrient dense super-green foods on the planet - quickly, simply, and deliciously!

To optimise your health, immunity and energy levels, the ideal balance of food intake is 80% alkaline and 20% acidic. If you fall short of the recommended 5-7 servings of vegetables daily, and include processed and packaged food in your diet, you could greatly benefit from Miessence DeepGreen Alkaliser.

• Extremely concentrated and dense - 1 teaspoon is equivalent to over 60ml (2 fl.oz) of fresh juices.

• 100% RAW, VEGAN and CERTIFIED ORGANIC.

• A concentrated source of super nutrition.

• A natural source of alkalising minerals.

• Formulated without fillers – no rice bran, flax seed, beans, or legumes... just pure DeepGreens!

• Great for those on low carbohydrate diets.

• Perfect for convalescents or those with weak digestive systems who are unable to obtain enough green foods through their diet.

So, what are you waiting for? Purchase the DeepGreen Alkaliser Superfood today and be that much closer to a healthier, energetic, more vibrant you!

Be excited and healthy on the inside just like myself

Poo sample positive result - thanks to the government for this initiative

The poo sample came back negative. WooHoo all that natural healthy food must make a difference.

But the government only does this selective sampling on a randomised basis every five years for those who are getting older in our community.

Of course irregular screening can only detect bad news, so why not begin a healthy lifestyle by putting in your digestive system what is good for us.

Stop drinking all those sugary or chemical sweet drinks, dead food and food that is chemically made, processed or preserved. Steps like these will in the long term assist to reduce our aging health issues, the global obesity epidemic.

Do we really need to think on this one?

More Australians now investing in solar systems

More Australians now investing in solar systems but this will now decrease severely in 2011.

Putting solar electricity feed in tariff solution on the roof is no longer sustainable as the feed in tariff which was $0.60 (probably not sustainable) has now dropped to $0.20 from October 2010 for new applicants.

Selling power @ $0.20 and buying back @$0.40 in peak or even more if paying for green does not make any economic sense.

So no solar system for my roof, and I am disappointed because many thousands of employees in this industry will now face economic disruption.

Do we really need to think on this one - putting solar on the roof is a long term economic way to reduce CO2 but not any more in NSW, Australia, thanks to some short term thinking of our elected officials.

Had a sore face - OMG - it was a tick embedded

Noticed that I had a had a sore face when I was in the local community bank at Ettalong Beach this morning.

Returned to the car looked in the mirror and saw a black spot on my face and it was a bit sore. So I travelled back to the local natural therapy centre Gnostic Healing Sanctuary in Woy Woy for a second opinion.

The lovely staff there confirmed it had legs and was sucking my face.

They removed the tick which was pulling my face inwards while they ge

ntly pulled it outwards. The little bugger came out. I applied probiotic after cleansing and the face is still sore some hours later and looks like a little hole on my skin..

More updates on this will be posted as they occur.

Lazy Turnip Vegetarian Lasagne

Oh no not more Turnips! So we have more turnips courtesy of the fig, Well how about making a Lazy Turnip Vegetarian Lasagne?

This is not a feed the man meat recipe for under $10 but may come close.

Four or so methods involved in this one so be prepared:

• Read and prepare
• Chunky tomato sauce;
• Béchamel sauce;
• Laying the lasagne.

Ingredients

500 ml organic milk	¼ cup organic flour	Tomatoes/puree	Sea salt, pepper
Coconut oil	1 onion	1 clove garlic	basil, oregano
1/2 turnip	1 zucchini	1 carrot	50 g butter
Lasagne sheets	Mozzarella cheese	Cheddar cheese	water

Prepare the vegetables

Wash and slice the turnips, zucchini about one of each or substitute say turnip and pumpkin; keep the ops of the turnips for stir fry or steam and use in the lasagne. Be creative

Steam or boil the veges for about 5-10 mins in filtered water;

Set aside.

Make the chunky tomato sauce

Slice and dice the onion, garlic and carrot.

Heat coconut oil in the pan and sizzle the onion and garlic till glistening.

Add the diced carrot, some black freshly grated pepper, ¼ tsp sea salt, some pureed tomatoes, tomato paste (or just fresh tomatoes). Total tomatoes about 1 cup and add water. Be generous with some basil and oregano and so on and cook till it looks delicious – 10 or so minutes.

Cover to keep warm and set aside.

Make the Béchamel sauce

Melt 50g butter in a pan on low heat, stir in ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg, some freshly grated black pepper, about ¼ cup organic flour. Continue whisking till mixed thru. Add room temp 500ml of organic milk and stir and whisk till mixed in. Continue whisking till gently boiling. Lower heat again and stir for a couple of minutes till really thick like custard (the home made variety not the carton variety). Set aside.

Layer the lasagne

Lightly grease an oven proof container with coconut oil and lightly dust with some flour, layer some of the tomato sauce in the base.

Then layer lasagne sheets on top. Then layer with the vegetables. Spread 1/3 of the béchamel sauce and some more pasta sheets. Lightly sprinkle with the grated cheeses. Put some more tomato sauce on top, then layer some more vegetables, pasta sheets then remainder of Béchamel sauce, sprinkle some grated cheese on top. (Note cooked turnip tops could be placed here under the sauce).

Place in hot oven 200º C for about 45-60 mins rotating after 30 mins – (my oven is not the best for even cooking).

Let stand with oven door open for about 15 minutes when finished before serving.

Served 4 with fresh salad, was yumm.