Serial Cereal Killer!

Well if any further proof was needed to push me into the 'insanity' camp, it was delivered today with the realisation that I'd bought 7 boxes of cereal at the shops! Gawd, I can only plead that kids make it hard to concentrate, the cereal is in 2 seperate aisles, one type was a '2 for cheap' offer, and I really do like cereal! Also I was quite hungry. None of this rules out the first diagnosis.

Worse we did still have 5 half eaten boxes at home.

Sigh.

The shepherd's pie was eaten by all but me - although I must have the only kids who prefer the mince to the potato! Neither would even eat a bite of potato, but chowed down the mince/ vegie mix. I couldn't eat it, too meaty. If I made it again, I'd use beef mince, the lamb was disgusting, I drained it well but still really fatty blergh.

So I made felafels the next night, from an Asda packet, which were delicious - mmmm. And then vegetarian sushi (which made both girls cry last night, refusing to try it).

Tonight it's roasted vegies with chicken breast.

Zucchini (sorry, courgette), baby leeks, parboiled pumpkin, basil, olive oil, garlic, onion roasted and served with pasta. Yuummmmy!

Shepherds pie

Today I'm going to attempt my first ever Shepherd's pie! I'm a little nervous, but the recipe looks good so hopefully it will taste nice. I'm not much of a fan of lamb mince, too 'meaty' but hopefully this will be OK. In fact lamb is hard to get here, I suppose that Australia's old slogan of 'riding on the sheep's back' is still partly true.

We've also realised that the Woolies slogan "Australians are fresh food people" is actually true - who knew it wasn't just a marketing gimmick! Really miss the variety and lack of over packaging we found in Australia. Even rice is in the 'foreign' section of the supermarket.

A calming trip to Ikea

The girls and I decided to go somewhere nice and safe - Ikea! We had loads of fun. Genevieve went to Smaland while Madeleine and I went and looked at all the toys. Then we grabbed baby trolleys - so cute - really got shopping.

Of course, on the way Madeleine tipped a sippy cup of water over her (thanks to me there was a change of clothes in the boot!) and I nearly caused a huge accident, about to go through an orange light, then stopping short - good test for the brakes, I think! Well we were all fine, I was a bit shaken, but very impressed with the brakes which was a pleasant surprise.

Then I made more bread - brown with linseeds today! YUM.

We've been planning our family holiday in Australia, it's going to be tonnes of fun (I hope!) It seems so strange to be a 'foreigner' coming to Australia.

Screamy kids

So today I think I've finally figured it all out. Hang the washing on the line when it's raining. Seriously. If you think I'm wrong, chances are you don't live in Scotland. My mistake has been waiting till it's sunny, meaning the next rain shower is simply closer. I wonder how this paradox could help with the rest of my life as an expat? Hmm will have to think about that.

I'm trying another slow cooker recipe today, recommended by a friend. I think I could really get used to cooking that way! So simple. Well let's see how it turns out before judging.

Apart from that we've had a quiet day (well obviously not QUIET with 2 kids) but haven't done much.

Inventing Bread

See when I say baking bread, I had to bake cheesey olive scrolls, seed and brown bread loaf and mini pumpkin rolls. All are delicious! I also yummy couscous with roasted vegies and harissa mmm. Still, I am aware that this is insane. I guess I'm a bit bored, hence the uberbaking.

Surely it's a golden age for the house, with me baking, cleaning (with Enjo, of course!) and cooking.

Oh I also tried my slow cooker for the first time! With a yummo recipe for baba ganoush from A year of slow cooking blog... mmm will definitely keep visiting that one!

Still grappling and procrastinating the doctor issue. Should get onto that today, I suppose. Or I could make more bread!! Hmm, probably best not.

Chilly

Gosh it's cold this morning! It fills me with dread that I'm finding the July weather nippy, as how will we cope come Winter??

My battle to feed 1 1/2 yo is continuing, although last night she ate some mushroom soup with corn in it. Usually, she'll only try something if it has a cocktail stick in it! She's technically too small for her age. Which usually wouldn't worry me, but a doctor here hinted that there might be an underlying problem. She said a range of blood testing etc... I just can't do that to a healthy baby. And despite a range of food allergies (eg has a drop or two of milk and immediately has a rash around her mouth) she is a healthy bub. The dairy does make it harder to pump her full of food. Oh and a tomato allergy, so all those tomato-ey sauces are out and I need to be crafty. Oh AND she's super fussy. Hohum. I'm confident it will pass eventually.

We had some success with 'kineseology' in Sydney, which I was dubious to try, but it really made a difference for her. Not sure that Glasgow is that 'alternative' yet.

Because of all this I'm very wary of joining a dr here, I want to find one who will not insist on pricking and poking my sweet little bubba. I don't like the 2 old men I saw at the first surgery we visited. Trying to find out if we can join somewhere else, but doctors are one of the mysteries I'm yet to unravel here!

6 weeks into our Glasgow adventure

Well, it's been 6 weeks and we are certainly "settled" now. That is we have the car, the house, the phone on, food in the fridge... but I still don't really know anyone here. I think that will take a while - not to mention a while to get used to.

It's strange that it's the little things that make me mad/ sad/ miss home. I get to talk to family and friends on Skype or the phone, so I feel quite close to all the people still. And thanks to the kids, I never feel 'lonely' exactly. But no rice crackers in the supermarket? I'm livid. Bad coffee? Furious! I wonder if all expats feel the same.

Already it feels strange to hear my accent, and in my head I try to 'glasgow' my sayings: doon to the hoose etc ... but then it comes out in the broad Aussie and it sounds weird!

Right now the kids (4 and 1) are going nuts. Screaming tantrum (1 yo) and kicking me (4 yo). I think being a parent teaches you an ability to block that stuff out. Oh except when you can't handle one more whinge or wheedle, then you have no patience at all.

So looking forward to my 4yo starting nursery school! I got a notice that she's been accepted into the local preschool class, which said to call the school to find out her starting date. So I searched online and found a phone number and rang it, thinking, hmmm isn't it holidays here... of course it was. When I called the council she said to call them when school goes back. Sigh. So many little things here to try to understand, I wonder if I ever will, and if I do, can we move back to Australia and fit in there?

Anyway I'm looking forward to school because it means friends. For her and me (I hope). Adults to talk to as well as a couple of hours a day to spend with my little one.

As I'm not working here at the moment, I've been cooking heaps.. which I think is the exception here. Ingredients are harder to find than pre-made meals/cakes/etc. Today I baked delicious bread rolls with olives, cheese and herbs, and we ate them all up for lunch yum. I wish someone would make me a really nice roast dinner. I'll have to put that on my wish list for our visit home in October...

Ok here ends my first ever blog :)