In my dreams, I have someone clean my house for me and that includes the kitchen - or I have loving family members with whom to play around while I clean. I can clean the kitchen only when I have someone fun helping. As for the rest of the house, I clean only when inspired. I'm working on that. It is the greatest flaw in my character.

The madelines sound wonderful. Does this give me an excuse to buy a pan, also.

OH, and [color:"purple"]Do you have a recipe for that candy stuff that is sort of like VIOLET CRUMBLES?[/color] My children and I love Violet Crumbles.

oh my just got woken up by little Michael, he is so loud. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

yes I do have one, actually I admit its AW's, she used to run a chocolate factory/shop but I will have to dig it out, very easy though. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> and its also very nice <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

now lets see if nanna can get back to sleep , if my snores wake you .. well thats just Aussie not me at all! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

AWMum - my oldest is 16. I never knew how fast "time" is till my baby started looking like Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

I, too, know the urge to knock his head. But only on days that end in "why".

Seriously, he's the best kid ever. And no, he didn't pay me to say that.

The Madelines sound perfect. Going to Bed, Bath, and Beyond soon so I can get a new tin.

What are Violet Crumbles? They sound lovely.

Tell AW that spas have recently been proven to be the BIGGEST germ fostering place in houses today. It's not the water the chemicals actually get to...it's the water in the pipes that sits between uses. Breeding grounds for all kinds of gunk...most of it very harmful to breathe...specially in children and older people. Gross, huh? Decided not to put a spa tub in my next house after reading about that.

- Kimmy

The 60s were SO wasted on me. I mean, living on the mission compound, surrounded and supervised by all the missionary parents, with all the little missionary kids for playmates... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> And ironically, I still don't remember that much about it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> With my naturally bad memory, if I'd actually, um, partaken of the 60s, (in any chemical sense, at least) I betcha here at 58 I wouldn't be able to remember anything all, including my name. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Not expressive enough, indeed! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

t&l, who is leaving now for Mr. Computer's birthday party, which he may or may not be attending personally, depending on whether or not he caught up with his schoolwork. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The party had to be postponed, and not because of any virtue on the part of the birthday boy. I had to spend $1200 all today, and wow am I tired!

Well, I was tired anyway, and then the kids teacher called to say she is leaving for Hawaii tomorrow, needed to meet with me today, and oh, BTW, they still have $1200 left of school funds between the two of them, the deadline to spend it is coming up while she's gone, so if I don't spend it today, I lose it. Do you know how hard it is to spend that much on little kids? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

First I went to the meeting, then I went to a school supply store in Sacramento and got all kinds of books, puzzles, science kits, an ant farm, prisms, puzzles, you name it. Then I came home and blew the rest on Barnes and Noble. They are going to have sooooooooo many books! It took hours and hours. I have been going on the project since 3:30 this afternoon, and just finished.

Thank you, American taxpayers. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Violet Crumbles are these wonderful candy bars (at least my family thinks so) made by Nestle and unavailable in most areas of the States. We can get them once a year from the Australian Catalog Company out of Atlanta, GA. We discovered them one year at our city's Australian Festival. They are this 'honeycomb' stuff coated in milk chocolate.

The honeycomb is a crackly, stiff sort-of-toffee core. Not creamy at all. When you bite through it, your teeth sort of 'cleve' it apart. It breaks. But it's not what you would call hard like 'hard candy'. More like an ultra-dense dried toffee-flavored meringue.

$1200?!!!!!!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Signed,

an American taxpayer

Which, speaking of, reminds me--we (that would be the you "we") need to get my taxes done and filed this week...in case we need some of that money to finish Tina's house so it can go on the market.

t&l

Neaksis.

Hello and good morning to the youngsters over in the other place!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

AW is sound asleep with a little girl smile on her face, Michaels right next to her also asleep grabbing a handful of her hair <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Aussie is at the barracks working on 'something' <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />


I forgot that Violet Crumble is an Aus term. It is only honeycomb with a chocolate coating.
The problem with giving you the recipe is that I don’t think you have "golden syrup" in the US.
It is a by product of refining our sugar CANE to get table white sugar.
Perhaps caro or pancake syrup might do if you mixed it half and half with treacle. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

2 tablespoons golden syrup
2 tablespoons white sugar
Boil together for about ten minutes
remove from heat
stir in bicarbonate of soda, 1 teaspoonful, and quickly pour onto a lamington tray - a cake tray with a inch lip all the way around or similar - while bubbling.
Mark - lines while warm and break up when cold.
Dip in melted chocolate or eat it
the way it is.
(Violet crumble must be coated with chocolate)

The honeycombe absorbs moisture from the air so either eat, coat in chocolate or put in airtight tin or it will get VERY chewy.

I think it was an attempt by the Ballarat settlers to
stop the stuff going sticky in the days before plastic bags.
And we all had Anzac biscuits last weekend. They also need golden syrup. Do you know them?
They are the sweet Aus version of Scottish Oat cakes.
The story is that in the ANZAC trenches at Gallipoli during WW1 the Diggers – that’s what we call Aussie troops – had little to eat due to a poor supply system and ‘created’ ANZAC bickies.
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

NC Walker!!!!! Great limerick <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

'Mum, that sounds so tasty. Just keep the recipes acomin', and the rest of us can start trading diet tips. Mmmmmmmmm!

Mom, it is less ridiculous than you think. Each child in the charter school starts with about $1200 with which to purchase all textbooks, supplemental learning material, and lessons of all kinds, everything from music lessons to dance to martial arts.

So the kids get a massive, well-rounded education, and for far less than the price of public school. For some reason, even with such generosity of funds, it ends up costing the government far less to assist the parents in the (ahem) JOYS of educating their own children, than to pay someone to put up with the little darlings all day. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

So really, dear taxpayers, I am saving you a bundle. No, no, there is no need to thank me. The happiness on my childrens' faces is all the thanks I need. (Bleeeeeargh.)

It is the packages full of books and science kits that makes it all worthwhile. Don't let anyone kid you.

ncwalker--I've laughed at your limericks on Idiotville for a long time. Here's one for you, and your poetry...

Should one land in the hygiene aisle,
Having missed its mark by a mile...
Since they're often flirty
And a little bit dirty,
We'll take care of it for you with Dial.

t&l

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I know you like to be cryptic, but even for you that's a little terse! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

t&l

What, no violets? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Personally, I'm surprised AW is brave enough to ever go to sleep and leave you, and her computer, unattended and together! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

t&l

L&D is such an odd place to work. So much opportunity for adventure in what is really a very routine event. Babies come out one hole or another. That's it. And yet, within that sameness there is such an infinite variety of possibilities, which is what has always made it interesting to me.

Night before last, I had 2 deliveries. One was a 34-week gestation, 6-1/4#, with a head like a banana from the molding, who, after 2 hrs. of maternal pushing, barely made it through the conventional passageway, expanded by a good-sized episiotomy. If she'd carried it to term, there's no way on God's green earth that baby would've been born without surgery. The 2nd, in the same room no less, was 12# 11oz., delivered vaginally as well, with no episiotomy, no tears, no stitches of any kind, with 5 minutes of pushing at the most. She was supposed to have a primary cesarean for a large baby, but before her scheduled surgery date she came in complete and delivered too quickly for surgery to be done. That baby was so fat its fat had fat. Hope they hadn't bought any newborn clothes! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Tonight was the night of the puffy perineum. Those women are going to feel like they're sitting on ostrich eggs for several days until the swelling goes down. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Even I was impressed at the way they, um, grew. Awhile back a lady tore so badly that she had a flap of skin sticking out that looked just like a juvenile penis--that's how large it was. It took the MD 1-1/2 hrs. to sew everything back up again and I kept looking at that big old thing and wondering where she was going to put it, and maybe it would be better if she just snipped it off and sewed the edges together...but eventually she reassembled the whole perineum, and if it wasn't quite as smooth as it had been before, it was at least in one piece without any unsightly protrusions. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I had to hold the patient's legs open all that time so she wouldn't clap her knees together on the doctor's head, so we were all tired by the time it was done.

Interesting place, L&D is. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Maybe Karo would work.....Or I could check w/ an international market - assuming anyone there speaks English since I don't speak Thai, Laotian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Portugese, Swahili, Arabic, or any of 100 different languages heard in Nashville.

Promise? Pretty-please?

Your limerick was quite well done!! And the lasses in the ville have been leaving me flat. (Well, one in particular. Starts with Q and rhymes with visquine. Actually sounds just like visquine without "vis".)

Mind if I fixate on you?
Do you live in a port city, accessible by dinghy?
Do I have to get Neak's permission?

You're just trying to expand your harem.

Here: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/about.html

Go amuse yourself.

Maybe the pirate actually needs some feminine hygiene products? Is there something we need to know? Tell us everything!!!!!