the fifo wife

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Did I like it? It was okay; it didn’t overwhelm me and I actually read it because well ‘Gwyneth’ recommended it. I wouldn’t reread it and it took me awhile to get into it or may be I would reread it because again Gwyneth recommended it and maybe I missed it brilliance but it kept me from being lonely for more than a few evenings and that I guess is the best indicator of whether its a good read or not.

Have you read it? Did you enjoy it? What’s the latest book you read? 

xx Deb

This is a recipe from one of my favourite foodie blogs spoon fork bacon. Love them. And I love beans dont know why but I do. As with all stir fry recipes this is fast to cook so have all your stuff ready to go. You could easily pre prep everything. This recipe also calls for fried pork belly but I have ommitted it here as I like the beans but when I do want a little protein I add a little chicken but if you want you could add some fried tofu another of my favourites..I know but don’t knock it till you tried it. Have these as a side or on its own.

The original recipe is here.

Asian-Style Green Beans

What you will need:

Szechuan sauce:

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons chili sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce, optional

500g green beans, cleaned
salt and pepper to taste

How to

1. Place 2 tablespoons of oil into a wok or sauté pan, over high heat.
2. Add ginger and garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add soy sauce, chili sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar, and hoisin (if using) and sauté for an additional two minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Pour sauce into a small bowl and set aside. Add 3/4 cup oil to wok and fry green beans for 1 to 2 minutes or until blistered and cooked through. Drain onto paper towels and set aside.

Stir fry chicken, pork or fried tofu here otherwise.

4. Add green beans and sauce back to the hot wok and toss together, about 30 seconds. 
6. Season with salt and pepper, top with crushed peanuts and serve.

Serve with rice. Yum.

Have a officially fallen in love with my iphone..got a bit snap happy..even took a selfie is that it? In my new glasses..love love.it. Oh and then there is Afterglow and instagram..

xx Deb

So my mother is still here with no return date which that in itself makes me smile. Husband is still home and Easter is here in a few days which means a couple of things. A full house as the brothers and their kids return to the big house for the Easter Egg Hunt.Then there is ‘the’ Easter Egg Hunt an event that rivals Christmas morning. My husband and his family never had a Easter Egg hunts as kids but its the one thing my mother did for me and it didn’t matter where we were camping the Easter bunny always found me. He always left a mess and always left a trail of eggs that kept me busy for what seemed like hours.

So when we had kids I couldn’t wait to do the hunt with them and from the first hunt I understood why it was so important to my parents. The excitement and thrill the kids get ‘hunting’ brings me to tears literally both from happiness and laughter. Just as it does to watch my husband hunt with the kids also because its on moments like these that I am truly reminded that life is about choices.My husband despite what he saw as a child is an amazing man.

So before I get all philosophical on you here are my few things for today.

1. Husband and I went on a date yesterday. I sat down and he wondered off to the toilet. He returned with a decaf cappuccino with three sugars in hand. Just for me because he knew I would like it…that beats the flowers he brought me Saturday for no reason..not by much but a little. I was reminded that its the little things that I love him for.

2. My B1 hasn’t progressed in his reading and comprehension. I am freaking out; why? After nine weeks are we still in the same spot. Its affecting his confidence. Its affecting mine. He is at the bottom of the ladder infact at this stage he isn’t even on it. What the? I am however grateful for his friends who constantly tell him that as long as he tries is all that matters.

3. Have you heard about the bully busters program that has been implemented in an Montrose Area School? Such a good idea. I hope it goes Australia wide. Its means involving the children on low level bully behaviour read more about it here.

4. I read somewhere that those people who swear more are considered more trust worthy…hmmm…so I could be someone you could leave the keys to the NAB vault with.

5. Just letting you know ahead of time that the nana heel (mid heel shoe) is in for next summer…um I didn’t realise it was out.

6.Drinking a beer a day keeps the flu away..I wont tell if you don’t..

7. My mother and father have been married 36 years and still cant communicate..its frustrating as crap seriously, just needed to throw that out there.

8. Cancer is following me…and I freaking hate it..so when I came across this post about cancer I couldn’t help but read..Read it here..

9. If you are struggling with being a mum today head to this honest website telling you the other unexpected side of mother hood read it here it will make you hold your breathe.

10. And just because I read it somewhere and I’m a bit of a useless trivia fan..the worlds longest legs belong to a basketball coach in North Virginia. Her legs measure 4’4ft alone. She is 6’5ft in total height. Am I jealous? No only when I cant reach the top shelf at woolies.

So that’s it sweets have a great Monday,

xx Deb

We have a guest post today by the lovely Jane..

Jane is a stay at home Mum of a four year old. Her BH (Beloved Husband or Boof Head, depending on the day) has been a FIFO for as long as they have been together. He has worked on oil rig projects all over the world and can be away for up to 8 weeks. Jane considers this both a blessing and a curse; while he is away she does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. When BF is home, she has to be seen to be doing household chores. BF is currently working FIFO within in Australia due to the new foreign currency tax laws, the unfavourable US dollar exchange rate, the effect of long haul flights on his calves and a yearning to see his daughter grow up. Let’s see for how long the passport gathers dust, though….

The Ten Stages of the FIFO worker’s homecoming.

1. Relief. Thank God I am home. I am so tired and fed up. I just want to be home.
2. Elation. There are so many things I want to do! The world is finally my oyster! I can eat what I want, get up when I want. (…and yes, that big pile of clothes next  to the washing machine are clean but they smell like work and I want you to rewash them.)
3. Exhaustion. I’ll do all that stuff I have been dreaming about in my bunk bed for the last month after I have some sleep in my own comfy bed. Mmmmmm…
4. Bewilderment. Can’t you keep the kids quiet while I have some sleep? Where is everything? Where are my socks? How come all my stuff has been put in a pile in the shed?
5. Excitement. Ah! The shed. OK. What shall I do first? Oh! Might just call some mates first. Ah! Fridge is full. Might just have a beer and think about it.
6. Frustration. Where the f__k is everything? Where’s the bottle opener? I’m sick of tripping over all this kid stuff! Who put that stool there? Why are all the knives blunt? How long has that light been broken? Does anything useful happen while I am gone???
7. Anger. I work so bloody hard and when I get home all I do is tidy up after you people. All these bills, I may as well go back to work and you will be happy to see me gone. I just get in your way and cramp your style anyway, don’t I? (Someone will storm out of the house during this stage.)
8. Nesting. Alright. Maybe i just need to acclimatise myself and wander around the house for a while and put things away. I‘ll mow the lawn and see how everything has grown.
9. Acceptance. I am so tired. Just glad to be home, really. I think I might just ‘be’ for a while. Need to chill out. Sorry for being an arse:  it is a big change for all of us me being home, isn’t it? Might need another nap.
10. Contentment. Ahh, I’m home. Happy. What would you like to do together today, family?

Stages of the wife and family of a FIFO worker’s homecoming.

1. Relief. Thank God he is home. I need help with the kids and an adult conversation. Breakfast in bed would be nice, too.
2. Elation. We are a family again!
3. Exhaustion. I can finally relax now he is home. There are two of us to walk through life together now. No more living in fight or flight response, I can let go…
4. Bewilderment. Why is there so much washing now? Who is this person that has come into our home? He looks like husband and Daddy, but he is acting like he doesn’t belong here!
5. Excitement. All the stuff we can do together! Picnics, drives, cooking, invite friends over…
6. Frustration. Why doesn’t he want to do anything? Why is he always tidying up the shed and talking to his work mates on Skype? A little help around the house wouldn’t hurt you know. And what is this ‘I’d like a platter lunch served at midday, thanks?’ bullshit? And a coffee and snack at 930 is not called ‘smoko’ in this house!!!
7. Anger. David Attenborough makes documentaries about this primeval behaviour. For months I have been in charge of this household and you come in like a testosterone charged gorilla needing to reassert your authority as head of the household? Well, you are the head! A dick-head!!! (At this point, someone will burst into tears.)
8. Nesting. What is he doing? Why is he wandering around rearranging everything? I am too emotionally exhausted by all these mood swings to even question his actions. Might go for a walk. Ahhh, he’s having another nap.
9. Acceptance. My gorgeous husband is going through a period of readjustment after a difficult time away. I need to be patient with his moods and his needs, because that is how I would like him to treat me.
10. Contentment. Curled up on the couch with a glass of wine watching one of our favourite DVDs. Kid asleep after Mummy and Daddy have read stories and kissed her goodnight.

Thanks Jane,

x Deb