Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you've got till it's gone

I am leaving Toowoomba.

Not that I really wanted to be here, but I tell you what, this is more difficult than I thought it would be. My lovely friend gave me some advice, it did not involve any wine or booze, but she knows me well. By invoking the poetry that surrounded the experience, rather than specific events, I will be ok, so she tells me.

So – I mourn:
My House: my lovely house; my home, built by a hard working man, with his own two hands. He made it posh were people could see, and saved where they couldn’t. So solid, water tight and unassuming. My boy built a fence, a patio, a kitchen, a bathroom, a vegetable garden, a front garden, a side garden, re did the roof, put in insulation, polished the floors, new carpet, along with re purposing furniture, studying and working.
(By Jingo – look how much you can get done when you’re committed.)

My Job: I learned so much at my job, and my boss was great for me. The friends I made at work have been lovely, and it was certainly a soft landing for me.

My position: Our house is so close to everything, I wish I had taken more advantage. Seriously – 1.2 km from a major department store, 400 m to two major bottle shops, 900 m to a cinema, pub restaurant, 300 m to pizza shop , video shop, chicken shop, butcher, GREAT fruit shop.... OMG why am I leaving??

The Parks: Walking Jake is much nicer in a park. He probs doesn’t know, but it is nice for me. So close as well. Hmmmm..

*not sure if this is helping*

I might have to get back to this.

*open a bottle of wine*

The Christmas! The Christmas!

Shopping list:

·         2 x packets of pate (your choice)

·         200 g salmon

·         Small packet philly cheese

·         Dill

·         1 x French bread stick

·         White nougat (bought)

·         12 fresh figs

·         1 x box forrero rocher

·         Jindi triple cream brie

·         Jindi Deluxe Blue

·         Honey

·         Mint

·         Lavoche biscuits

·         Maggie Beer’s quince paste

·         Muscatels

·         700 g white grapes

·         700 g black grapes

·         Ingredients for raspberry and almond cupcakes (see following)

·         Ingredients for dark nougat

·         Ingredients for Brioche (or bought)

·         Watermelon

·         Ingredients for Orange and poppy seed cake (or packet mix)

·         Ingredients for the Yule log (see following recipe)

·         Potatoes 600g

·         Sweet potato 600 g

·         Carrots 600g

·         Green beans

To Serve: 

Goose liver pate

Smoked salmon on French bread with philly cream and dill

 

3.5 kg goose

Steamed green beans with almonds

Roast vegetables (carrot, sweet potato, potato)

 

Almonds:  http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/23061/raspberry+and+almond+cake

Hazelnuts:  forrero rocher

Figs:  Fresh  Figs, drizzled with honey &  sprinkled with a bit of mint

Semi dried muscatels – to go on the cheese platter

White nougat

Dark nougat: http://frenchfood.about.com/od/desserts/r/Cinnamon-Almond-Brittle-Recipe.htm

Brioche:  Bought brioche

Quince: quince paste  with brie and blue cheese

Dates: Sticky Date Pudding http://www.exclusivelyfood.com.au/2006/07/individual-sticky-date-puddings-recipe.html

Winter melon (we are going to replace with watermelon):  sliced watermelon

Grapes:  black grapes and white grapes (700 g of each)

Oranges: orange and poppy seed patty cakes with cream cheese icing (Greens does a great packet cake)

Yule log: http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/yule-log

 Can you please let me know in the comments which bits you are going to bring, and I will organise the rest.

 

I got the goose.