Crochet Listen/Watch/Read Pip-Life

Things that have been going on…

July 4, 2016

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Oh hi!

I’ve been a little quiet over the last week. Just feeling a leeeetle bit fatigued. It’s good to go-to-ground a bit when things feel that way, I reckon. It’s important to listen to your bodily bits and pieces and slow things down a titch.

I’m 1000% sure that the cooler weather is partly responsible for this tiredness. I am probably actually a turtle also, I think. You know how turtles are? When things get cool they tend to slow right down and hibernate. We’re constantly trying to keep our ACTUAL turtle (his name is Pup) warm enough because apparently it’s not good for him to hibernate. If you read this blog often, you will know that I am very prone to suggestion – even from turtles – and I am blindly joining in with Pup’s struggle. I need to pull my socks up.

I’ve been reading a BRILLIANT book called ‘Love, Nina’ during the socks-down time. You should read it. It’s so funny. I am laughing every time I turn the page and I don’t want it to end. I started watching the TV series of the book too, but – despite the fact that it features Helena Bonham Carter – it’s GOOD, but not AS good. The book is definitely where you should start. (I bought my copy at Readings, if that helps.) The book has all the clever little details that you must not miss out on.

Speaking of watching, I’ve also been watching things for my #SallyFieldAThon. So far my favourites are Sybil and Norma Rae (but do not howl at me about Steel Magnolias, because I haven’t done the rewatch of that and you KNOW I love it. Same for Brothers and Sisters. I have already marked that VERY highly and I know how great it is!) If you look on Twitter, you can see my #SallyFieldAThon reviews. In case you care about those.

In the snack department, I’ve been eating lots of vegetable curry and also eggs with Vegemite soldiers. Do you want to know how to make the curry? Here is how. (I am sure you already know how to make eggs and soldiers, so I won’t bother with that.)

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Simple & Delicious Vegetable Curry

Serves 6 (Or just eat it all yourself. That’s what I do.)

Slosh of oil
1 onion, diced
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 inch piece of ginger, grated
1 dessert spoon of curry powder
1/2 kg of pumpkin cut into chunks
1/2 small cauliflower, cut into flowery bits
1 carrot, peeled and sliced

1 zucchini, chopped into chunks
1 red pepper, chopped into chunks
handful of green beans, chopped
800g of whole tinned tomatoes
1 stock cube
250 mL of water

Slosh oil into large pot (with lid).
Fry onion, garlic and ginger until fragrant.
Add the curry powder and fry for 30 seconds.
Add everything else.
Simmer until the pumpkin is tender – around 30 minutes.

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Making-wise, I’ve been crocheting cute squares via a Japanese craft book pattern I found via Google. I’ve been making a flighty and fabricky project for the next Frankie, too. It went off to Hilary to be photographed yesterday. I’ve been teaching my ace students a little bit about writing and Blog Magic. AND I’ve been going for brisk walks and listening to the audio book of Outlander.

Hanging-out-wise, I’ve been eating Teriyaki Chicken Bowls with Ari, eating dumplings with Ari, drinking tea with Rin and chatting voting with Max.  (If you are a first time reader, Ari, Rin and Max are my kids.) Teriyaki Chicken is Ari’s current favourite. Dumplings are my current favourite (especially the ones from Kitchen Republik because they are made on the spot and are soupy and covered in chilli oil and black vinegar.) Rin’s current favourite is probably Hainanese Chicken Rice. I am guessing. I might be wrong. Max’s current favourite is possibly anything edible because he lives in a bungalow out the back of a bohemian share house with bare cupboards and a moody 80s soundtrack.

I went to the movies on Friday to see Hunt For The Wilderpeople. Have you seen it? I liked it… BUT I wondered about the way they used the (super ace) lead child character’s BODY SHAPE as a joke. What did you think about that, if you saw it? To me it seemed a bit base and unnecessary. I thought it would have been funny WITHOUT making fun of the ace kid’s body, personally.

Australia just went to the polls (in case you don’t know that) and we’re currently waiting to find out who will lead the country into the next 4  THREE year term. The vote counters are apparently allowed to stop counting votes for 2 days, so we’re all feeling a bit at sea, wondering who is steering the ship and hoping we will find out by Thursday. Or sooner. Sooner would be good. It’s kind of like we have a substitute teacher at the moment and instead of doing proper lessons they’ve handed out some colouring in books and told us to keep it down and stop passing notes. It’s a bit perturbing, right?

Today? Today it is actually very freezing cold. I am going to make some soup, write some lessons, work on my book outline and go to the op shop to find some vintage graphic design examples. I’m going to try not to hibernate too.

What are you going to do today? Socks up? Or socks down?

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PS: Look at this (quite old) post about the Steel Magnolias house!

22 Comments

  • Reply Isabel July 10, 2016 at 10:43 PM

    Hey Pip! Nice to hear from you, and to know a little about what’s going on in your world recently. If you need more funny in your life, and let’s face it we all do, I reckon you should get into Would I Lie To You. It’s the best! You can watch it for free on YouTube, it stars David Mitchell and Lee Mack as kind of class-opposites, and it’ll make you laugh til you snort. Start with season 6 episode 3 with Miranda Hart and then just go from there…seriously good stuff for some winter chuckles. xx ps I saw Hunt for the Wilderpeople with my parents, they loved it, I liked it, but maybe it was slightly too…cheesy? Still. That kid can do no wrong in my eyes, and neither can beautiful New Zealand. I wanna live there! x

  • Reply amanda July 6, 2016 at 5:13 PM

    I love Love Nina, woke up with insomnia at midnight the other night and finished it all in one go. Was living around North London in those days so feels very familiar and she is a howlingly funny writer.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 6, 2016 at 5:53 PM

      I just feel like I don’t have enough FUNNY in my life. I need MORE FUNNY. I don’t blame you for gobbling it up!! x

  • Reply Reannon July 5, 2016 at 5:05 PM

    I was just thinking today that I feel
    Like I haven’t ” talked” to you in AGES Pip, & here you are in my feed 🙂
    Your description of Max’s house made me giggle. I’ve also been searching for a good teriakyki chicken recipe since the weekend because I am really craving food of the Asian/noodle/rice variety, so if you’ve got a tasty recipe is love for you to share it with me.
    And it is FREEZING here in Perth, like REALLY!! I am all about bedsocks, tracksuit pants & blankets on the couch this week.

  • Reply Katie July 5, 2016 at 10:31 AM

    Hi Pip

    Now you have made me want Hainanese Chicken NOW. I loved Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Murray was hilarious and the woman for Child Protection!! I was just wondering about the flow magazine in your pic. Do you subscribe or get it from the library? My daughter is a huge Frida fan and I was wondering what there was inside about her?

  • Reply Little White Dove July 5, 2016 at 10:05 AM

    Oh I just love this post, especially your awesome description of the boho share house with moody 80’s music and bare cupboards and the substitute teacher and passing notes… got me smirking here in my pj’s in front of the fire, needless to say I’m in full hibernation mode today … I’m making goulash for tea tonight, it will simmer and fill the house with delishness all afternoon, but I’m adding your vegetable curry to the menu this week for sure- sounds comforting and hearty. x

  • Reply Rachell July 5, 2016 at 4:25 AM

    Gosh, we’ve only just had the first series of Love, Nina on the BBC I’m surprised you’ve got it at the same time. I really enjoyed HBC as the mother, thought she was good and understated. Kind of cool.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 5, 2016 at 8:21 AM

      I watched it on BBC iPlayer! xx

  • Reply Erin July 4, 2016 at 10:16 PM

    So happy to find another ‘Love, Nina’ devotee. I bought it without a second thought because my little toddler is a Nina and I thought it was wonderful for her to have a book named for her (I wish there was a The Importance of Being Erin or an Erin’s Adventures in Wonderland, but maybe in my next life…). In true parent-of-sassy-toddler form, I am getting through paper Nina about a page at a time, but gosh it’s good…

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 5, 2016 at 8:21 AM

      I’m loving it so much! I haven’t read a funny book in SO LONG and now I wonder WHY? MORE FUNNY BOOKS, please! x

      • Reply Kerry July 6, 2016 at 4:56 AM

        Have you read Nina Stibbe’s novel, Man At the Helm, which was published not long after the runaway success of Love, Nina? It is HOWLINGLY good. And she’s had another one published since then but I haven’t read it yet…

        • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 6, 2016 at 5:02 PM

          I haven’t read it yet, but I REALLY WANT TO! Good call! So glad to hear it’s ACE! x

  • Reply Hannah July 4, 2016 at 6:36 PM

    Yeah! I liked Hunt for the Winderpeople too, but there was something that made me feel uncomfortable at the start which I’d forgotten by the time I walked out the door. And that gratuitous body-size joke was it. Bu that kid IS a fantastic actor – apparently he got the role over his twin brother – how intense must that have been!

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 4, 2016 at 7:07 PM

      I loved the film, apart from that little quirk… He’s amazing and it’s so funny and the scenery is gorgeous and the cast is just wonderful. LOVED it. Just that… I didn’t know about his twin. Gosh. Yes. TOUGH!

  • Reply Edie July 4, 2016 at 5:24 PM

    Ha ha! Yay for the veg curry. I want to hibernate but night duty calls.
    If it didn’t I would be watching making a murderer! I know! I never watch anything! It took me 6 months to watch The Bridge! But I have been watching this. OMG.
    X

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 4, 2016 at 7:06 PM

      Night duty must be tough… I don’t know how you get used to that! I just don’t know! You are funny with your Slow Tv Movement, Edie! x

  • Reply Therese July 4, 2016 at 3:45 PM

    I’ve read ‘Man at the Helm’ by Nina Stibbe who wrote ‘Love, Nina’ and I LOVED that, so I’m going to get ‘Love, Nina’ – thanks for the heads up. I really need a good laugh. Socks down at my house, even though I need to be socks up. I can’t seem to get motivated right now and it’s not good. So glad you wrote this post, Pip.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 4, 2016 at 7:06 PM

      Oh my gosh. Nina is hilarious. I am now obsessed with her, of course, as I am wont to be…

  • Reply Dianne July 4, 2016 at 11:18 AM

    Hi Pip I loved your comparison of the current election limbo situation to a substitute teacher handing out colouring books!( Even my 12 year old found it amusing!). We went to see Hunt for the Wildepeople last week too & loved it, but I hadn’t really thought about the body shape issue….I loved that it was about finding your own inner strength, acceptance of and connection with others, finding the good in people… Plus in our household now we are finding any excuse to put on a bad kiwi accent and say “I’ m relentless, I’ m like the terminator” !!!!

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 4, 2016 at 7:08 PM

      I’m like The Terminator!
      Pretty great, huh?
      It’s an ace film…
      I loved it that Murray from Flight Of The Conchords was the bush man!

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