Ouch!

So, this morning, as I was having my morning cough 🙄, I coughed and something went POP where my ribs are already so sore on my right side.   I have cried more tears 😭 in the past 3 weeks than in a long time. Oh, it hurt so much!

I am so worn down by this virus, the coughing, the blocked ears (fixed), the snot, more coughing.  I'm not sure if it is muscular or actually cracked ribs...that's what it feels like as it 'grabs' me when I move.

So, I went to work for an hour or so, got the payroll done then came home again. I am walking gingerly and cannot bend down to put socks on (or pick anything up) and am generally miserable. 

I've spent the afternoon watching Youtube clips and dozing in my recliner.  Not sure what tomorrow will bring...

I am so over it!

Not real cheery - Joolz xx

Saturday stuff...

Well, that Sticky Ginger Loaf is out of the oven and boy does it smell good!  It made a very big loaf (I used my bread tin)....

Waiting for it to cool was cruel!

I got some loads of washing done.  This is how I've dried most of our clothes over winter since I lost my outdoor, under the pergola line.  Hanging Gus's business clothes on hangers means they go straight into the wardrobe and get a quick iron if needed when he wears them.  I don't have an ironing basket.

Time to test the loaf. It sure tasted delicious but I think I must have slightly overbaked as it wasn't really sticky. Yummy!

When the ginger loaf came out, I had a loaf of bread ready to go back into the tin...

As you can see, it turned out perfectly! I just love this recipe!

Here is the recipe for Chadd's Bread  

I use my stand mixer but you can just as easily mix it by hand - add in the yeast, water and sugar, stir and let it stand for 5 minutes.  The yeast should start to activate.
Dump in the flour, salt, bread improver and olive oil - using the dough hook, knead for 5 minutes until nice and smooth.
Turn out into a greased bowl and let rise, covered,  in a warm place for 1 hour until well risen.
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Turn out the risen dough onto a floured surface and gently knead it, ever so slightly, just a few turns.    Shape into a oblong loaf and place in a lined tin or like I usually do, weigh the dough and divide into 12 and make bread rolls. 
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Let the dough rise a second time for 45 minutes (with 10 minutes to go, get your oven heating to about 210C).
I baked this loaf for 20 minutes then turned it around, then aa further 20 minutes.  It should sound nice and hollow when you tap it.
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This is such an easy recipe and can be adapted to use wholemeal or other flour and you can add in seeds like chia, pepitas, flaxseed etc or add spice and fruit...the possibilities are endless!
I have also made foccacia using this mix.

 

See the reflection on the wall?

It is from that mosaic tile that has mirrors in it.  Look at my poor pot plants.  The geranium is still going but the other two pots are growing thriving weeds! 🙄

Later in the afternoon, Gus lit up our scrap wood pile.  It's about the last chance we'll get before fire ban season starts in October.  Our council laws won't let us burn on a Sunday, which to me, is stupid!  Sunday arvo is the perfect time for a paddock fire!

Here, I am standing at the back fenceline of our 2.5 acre block.  I rarely come over into the back acre or so, but it really is quite a lovely space.

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This is the rough pile he wanted to burn...

Gus got one bit burning but it took ages to get the other sides alight...

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Past that fence is into the neighbours block...

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Our bit of Aussie bush!

I was careful not to sit out in the cold for too long.  A brandy and ginger beer kept me warm!

A cracker of a fire! 🔥

Time to head inside to get dinner ready.  We let it burn out....

Cheers - Joolz xx

Saturday again...

...thank goodness!

Another week has passed and I'm still coughing (so is Gus).  Each day the cough is a bit different but ever present.  If I talk, I cough!

Last night, I thought I was getting crook again - a headache (I haven't had one for a long time) and just tired.  I woke up in the middle of the night in a head sweat then it took me a while to get back to sleep.  This morning, I'm still cough, cough, coughing and intend to do very little this weekend.

Dinner last night was what I call zucchini vegetable slice but I guess it's like a frittata. I packed all sorts of veggies into it - fresh corn 🌽 zucchini, carrot 🥕 mushroom 🍄 capsicum, spinach, tomatoes 🍅 and onion - then 5 eggs, a splash of light cream, a tablespoon of flour, salt and pepper and parsley.

It was yummy served with some lamb cutlets. I was too lazy to do a green salad 🥗....

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For as long as I can remember, probably back to when I was 4 or 5 years old, Golden crumpets have been packaged in this way.  I don't think the font or logo has ever changed, or the cello wrapper. I love crumpets spread with Vegemite or golden syrup and enjoy them buttered with baked beans for breakfast or lunch.

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Is there something from your childhood that still remains the same?  

Arnott's biscuits are still pretty much the same although I have noticed with these Yoyo biscuits, they are thinner and seem less buttery...but I still like them from time to time.  Fancy me buying biscuits! 😮

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Now I am off to make this 

Sticky Ginger Loaf

from Marie at The English Kitchen.

  I forsee many cups of tea being had this weekend.  Then I need to sort out some DVD viewing 

or something to watch on Netflix or Stan or iView or SBS on Demand....

Have a lovely, restful weekend,

Cheers - Joolz xx

Organised...

I love my pill organiser and maybe I'm a bit anal, but I love organising the organiser! Of the 5 things I take, three are supplements - Vitamin D, Triple strength Fish Oil and Curcumin (turmeric) - all of these for bone and heart health.

Still coughing 🙄

Cheers - Joolz xx

Half price savings...

Super pleased with these savings on ordinary items we use...

Cobram EV Olive Oil 750ml $6.50 instead of $13.00 - bought 2

Husband's Nivea Deodorant $1.75 instead of $3.50 - bought 11

Cold Power capsules $6.00 instead of $12 - bought 2 and will get more today...

Do you keep a look out for 1/2 price items? 

This is my 'shop' as husband calls it! Very handy when you run out of deo or shampoo and conditioner, soap, hand or body wash.  All these items were bought at half price.  My moisturiser was $6.50 instead of $13.00+  and my night cream is usually $32.99 but I paid $16.50.
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Feeling slightly better today. Still coughing but getting rid of what's on my chest so hopefully that's a break through! 

Cheers - Joolz xx

I can hear again!

Yesterday, I gently syringed my blocked ear out using room temperature water, as per the directions.  I didn't get instant relief but things started to move over the course of the afternoon.  Snap, crackle, pop!  One thing it did do...was make me dizzy! The room was spinning for a minute then things settled down. 

By last night, my ear had unblocked but I am left with slight ringing in both ears, but I have a bit of that usually.    I hope this will settle down as I lose the cough and congestion. 

My ribs are so sore, I had to get up at 5.30am as I couldn't get comfortable in bed, so I'm in for a long day!

I'm getting there, I guess!

Cheers - Joolz xx

Still battling...

Drinking lemon & ginger tea with honey...

Having a tipple of brandy...

Making buttery buttermilk biscuits (US Southern style) similar to scones...

Look at this cheeky kookaburra!  Isn't he gorgeous?

Rain on the bare branches of our silver birches...they're just starting to sprout out green again...

A warming meal of lamb shanks, mash and peas....

I've tried everything to unblock my left ear...foaming peroxide and two different types of ear drops...

Looks gross, eh?

I spent the weekend indoors, watching the second season of Poldark.  I got it finished!

Gus made a paella in his new pan that he got for Father's Day...

Yesterday, I had my ears candled.  I was surprised to see that my better ear had more wax come out of it (the one above left) and the blocked ear is on the right. 

I have two more to use, maybe later today or tomorrow...

I am also now taking Olive Leaf Extract and intend to consume this whole bottle until I am well again!  It isn't the best tasting stuff but it is made bearable by the berry flavour.

I had used up my last bottle of brandy and Gus bought me this one which is an aged one.  Now, don't get me wrong...I am not getting sloshed every night on brandy!  Over the past week, I have had 5 full shots in coke.  Mum always said it had medicinal properties!

Oh, it hasn't been good! I just can't shake this cold. I'm still congested, blocked up, coughing, wheezing, crackling...my ribs are so sore from coughing, I am miserable!

My left ear is totally blocked and this has really brought me down.  Today is day 12 since I first started coughing. I went to the doctors last Friday who confirmed my ear was blocked with wax (but offered no remedy) and that I had "what everyone else has"... go home to bed.  I spent all weekend indoors, taking it easy but coughing my lungs up! 

I'm a wine drinker, I love my wine...but have not had a glass since that Father's Day lunch.
My blocked ear is crackling a bit today so hopefully, things are starting to move....

Cheers - Joolz xx