Sudokuaholics Anonymous 7

OK! Pencils read: commence!

Shortbread.
250 grams unsalted butter
100 grams castor sugar
1 capful (1 tsp?) of vanilla
300 grams plain flour
70 grams cornflour

Cream butter and sugar.
Add vanilla, and beat.
Sift the flours together.
Fold and beat into creamed mixture.
Knead, and roll to 1 cm thickness on a floured surface.
Cut into shapes, place on a greased and floured tray.
Bake at 140C for 50 minutes.
When cool dust with castor sugar.
Enjoy!

We saw the New Years Eve fireworks at South Bank, Brisbane a few years ago. It remains a highlight of our trip - not the fireworks, but being jammed in a small area with tens of thousands of people, taking 10 minutes with family members holding hands in a line to walk a hundred metres, walking over the bridge with thousands of people...When you live in a small town, it's very different.

Watched the Melbourne fireworks on TV last night - thousands of people there, a huge crowd. Quite glad we weren't there - must be getting old!

So sorry to hear Gail's news. I have no power with anyone, but send all kinds of thoughts and wishes her way...

There was apparently a big crowd in Sydney this year too. And the carols d2 sang at had the most people in several years there too. I suspect there is something about human nature that looks for good and fun in the world when things are bad.

I'd better go foraging for food - talk to you later! :)

Judy, do you have a fan forced oven???

Hello lovely SA7 people and Happy New Year 2009 to one and all
I think someone should have told me to act my age and not my shoe size - I am suffering badly from too much champagne, not enough sleep and absolute over-indulgence. Why didn't I think of the aftermath? And it has been soooo hot here - we've had our air con on constantly for nearly 36 hours.

Our party was great at the time - we had about 15 people here BUT our neighbours also had a party with about the same number of people and although we all stayed on our own side of the fence, the combined party was very noisy.

Has someone got a hangover smiley?

I'm sorry to hear about Gail's Mum's troubles.
Gail - you're in my thoughts

Oh Gail, I identify with you completely. Exactly the same problem as my Mum except she made the decision that she would not have the amputation. At 85 she had never had an operation. lOving thoughts going your way.

Hey Dag, you know we are with you, extra good vibes going your way.

I just received this from a dear friend and wanted to pass it along to you, my dear SA7 friends (particularly Gail, June annd any others with worries and troubles at the moment).

SISTERS
A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about theresponsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter
'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.'
'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.'
What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married?
Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'
But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact
with her Sisters and made more women friends each
year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,
she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,
Sisters are the mainstays of her life.
After more than 50 years of living in this world,
here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on
to all the women who help make your life meaningfu

SISTERS (part 2)
Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on
to all the women who help make your life meaningful.
I just did. Short and very sweet:
There are more than twenty angels in this world.
Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine are
playing. And one is reading this now.

The email said to sendthis on to 10 friends, I believe I'vesent it on to more on this page.

Storm coming - blessed relief from this heat but I must close pooter down now.

CynB, is having air conditioning on for 36 hours straight some kind of record there? Here, it is necessary to have air conditioning on for MONTHS straight, day and night, it does not cool down at night, it does not cool down for storms. Storms just makes weather more humid!

OH, Pardon me, I forgot my manners.

GOOD Maen Sudokuland!





Come and have a cuppa with me, boy I need one this morning, slept so hard and so long last night!

Just watched the Vienna New Year concert. It was magnificent. Off to bed so will catch up with posts in the morning.

Sorry I am not able to stop for a cuppa tricia.

I have just finished watching the end [missed most of it]of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra's New Year's Day concert. Wish I'd seen it all. The conductor, Daniel Barenboim, was very talented and a bit of a card...he was even conducting a very responsive audience...had them applauding in waves and rhythms completely in tune with the orchestra.

It has me thinking how small our world is and how technology keeps bringing us closer and closer together...When I was little we had a generator...electricity hadn't made it to our part of the bush, television...what a miracle that was... to watch man walk on the moon...realising now that some of the authors we studied at school were in fact visionary [what seemed far fetched at 16 turns out to have been prophetic] ...computers..OMG...will I ever get that one...small enough to fit in my handbag..webcams and skype...advances in medicine ...60 years ago I would probably have died in childbirth...

It is truly an amazing time to live in. Switch on the news though and learn that we still haven't learnt to live in harmony...not much celebrating happening in the Arab states...I don't know what the bombs being launched between Israel and Gaza are all about this time...can't see how anyone can win there..
I hope that the troubles of all my friends here in this safe haven we call SA be little ones and that the love and compassion we share for each other can extend out into the broader community. May none of us ever suffer directly from the waste and carnage that is war. Enough from me….
PEACE

Never mind CynB, I bet the grandies had a ball watching you act your shoe size!!! We've all been there.

I know it's early to discuss the next celebration, but does anyone know of Australia Day parties. Are these being held on the Sunday or Monday?

Has anyone noticed, are the horoscopes not changing with the date? I know it did not change this morning with site changing dates and I am thinking we have had the same one for several days now.

Good Maen and Happy New Year to us topsiders!
Just popping in briefly - hope everyone is well.
Keeping you and your mum close to my heart, dear Gail, and praying my bestest for you both!
Beanie - you are so deep at this late hour - thanks for the bootiful sentiments!

Beanie - for contacting Gail and giving her our collective love. It felt good to know we somehow reached out to her through you.

Good Maen, Everyone! CynB, thank you for Sisters! I think it sums up beautifully what we have here!

Gail, many positive thoughts and prayers being sent your way for your Mum and your family!

Bean, enjoyed your thoughts, as well. Do you think we could EVER get enough people praying for peace to make a difference? I sure hope so!

Blessings and positive thoughts for everyone as we start the new year!

Bean, please tell Gail that I will be keeping her and her mom in my thoughts and prayers.

CynB, thank you for "sisters" I have seen it before, but the reminder is always welcome.

to all my sisters (and brothers) in Sudokuland. I truly appreciate all of you. All the jokes, laughter, recipes, support. I truly feel blessed to have such good friends in my life. May the new year bring health and happiness to all of you and may the only trouble you know, be me.

and all.
Loved the "Sisters", CynB.
The work crew had to leave and go to the store for supplies. It seems that IH doesn't know the difference between tack strips and moulding. He told them that we had all the tack strips for the carpeting, when we didn't.
Had a miserable night. Every time I laid down, I had a panic attack, and my chest felt heavy, like my breathing was constricted.

Gail..... I think it would be a whole lot better for your mother to lose a leg than to lose her life. My prayers are with her.

Hello topsiders!
CynB - I, too, loved "Sisters"...rings so true.
Heidi - to you sweetie - hope you have a chance to take a nap and wake more peacefully.

MzT - didn't read my horoscope lately, so not sure if this is old or a new one.
Hey you Troublemaker!!!
I have to go do a couple of things here at home, but I'm hoping I'll have a chance to see you in a few hours (say around noontime for me? - or anytime later today)
...are you all hooked up now???

what are you having panic attacks about heidi? that could be a big problem! i developed panic attacks over bridges when i was about 23 years old. i think i am getting better now though. i took some meds for about a year and had some therapy and i got alot better. did you know that the big bridges have people who will drive scaredy cats like me across the bridge?

SA7. i got through last night with my house and wits still intact. i'm glad the kids slept in! today will be filled with games and general laziness...should be a good day. have a great day/night ladies!

Morning all! Wish I was still asleep....

Cyn your party sounds wonderful and well worth the aftermath....

Bean, you said so much about war that I agree with. I understand men like Hitler cannot be left to do what they are doing, but why do so many innocent people have to die along the way to stopping them???

Mariana, glad to hear you survived. Your day sounds like a perfect new years day to me.

Heidi, so sorry to hear about your bad night. I'll take some deep breaths with you. A 'sister' thing like Cyn posted above.