the fifo wife

How was your week? Mine it was wonderful lots of lazy days where housework wasn’t done at all, attending my first class room readings..I don’t know what I was frightened of (I’ve always sent husband…seriously a room full of kids sends me into cold sweats) hanging with the boys, watching lots of TV with the FIFO husband and contemplating life, visiting friends, sparks re kindled, lessons learnt, notes taken about self, 35 year old tantrums thrown..hmm and yes that would be me, arguments had with FIFO husband and arguments resolved with blissfully happy ending (not always the case I must add) and not to sound all sappy it has been good for the soul. So good.

Hoping that you all have great weekends talk soon my lovelies,

xx Deb

Braised caramel pork belly, I made this for B2’s birthday and he LOVED it. It combined all his favourite things and he polished it off in equal time. Its not a ten minute make meal so its a meal to be savoured but its worth the effort not that there is much effort involved. The braising could be done ahead by a couple of days and then thrown under the grill when ready to go. The pork is also yum through a broth and noodles. Both images and recipe are from www.homelife.com.au

What you will need:

• 3 cups (750ml) chicken stock
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• Roots from 1 bunch coriander, washed, chopped, plus extra leaves, to serve  (I didnt have any)
• ½ cup (185 ml) kecap manis
• 3cm piece of ginger, thinly sliced
• 2 pieces dried mandarin peel, or 2 strips fresh orange peel (forgot to put it in)
• 3 star anise
• 1 piece cassia bark or cinnamon stick, crumbles
• 1.7kg piece boneless pork belly
• Steamed gai lan and jasmine rice, to serve (I used long grain rice and broccoli B2’s favourite)

Caramel sauce

• 175g grated dark palm sugar (I used brown sugar)
• ¼ cup (60ml) fish sauce
• 2 tbs rice vinegar
• 1 red birdseye chilli, seeded, finely chopped

How to:

1. Combine ingredients & slowly cook

2. Making sauce

3. Cut pork, grill & serve

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xxDeb

I did an interview last week with a reporter and amongst all her questions her final one was why did you start your blog? On the spot I couldn’t answer her properly I was trying to be so careful in how I answered each and every question. I was frightened of being misquoted (we will see its yet to be published). Eventually I told her because I wanted others to know that are in my situation that this lifestyle is not all doom and gloom its a positive one. One I’m passionate about. FIFO has such a bad rep but FIFO is a choice like everything in life. You either make it work or you don’t. You want to make really good money their are sacrifices to make. You want to have good quality family time its often about missing some moments along the way only to make up for them later. Its all about how you deal with that.

I blog because in all honesty I got tired of reading poor bugger me stories on other forums and I know I whinge and whine on a occasion but never am I after sympathy I’m just telling the story that is FIFO or essentially life. I love this life and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sympathy and pity its not what I want to be known for. I see other women pitted and felt sorry for and it angers me, its matter of getting yourself together really. I want my children to see that I’m a strong, capable women who can even though I’m a woman I can see them through anything. I can do anything. I know I can. FIFO often presents us with things and we either learn how to get through it or not as a women I find that empowering I thrive off it. I’m no women’s lib but I don’t need a man I want a man.

FIFO teaches you so much. Life teaches you so much. You either learn to communicate with your spouse and your children or those relationships will inevitably will fail. You either start to look after your body or it will also fail. You either put your marriage before all else or that will to start to fail, your family will start to fail. FIFO or not. Everything is a choice. How you react to things that is a choice. Nothing in life comes easy. Nothing.

I thought if I blogged about my life our life that perhaps some women may benefit from that, knowing that they are not alone in loosing it because you couldn’t open the Vegemite jar on day 12 of  your 28 day swing and well its okay, we are the new normal different. Sometimes people don’t agree, make a point of telling me and that’s okay. Believe it or not I appreciate that. Even the harsher critic’s the more personal ones I appreciate what you have to say. Its teaches me something. Personally I have learnt so much about my self. Naturally a very shy person this blog has done wonder for my confidence and soul. I never thought that my blog would reach the level that it has but its amazing and I’m so grateful for the opportunities it has provided me  and not only that but for the friendships that have been created from it. Friendships of FIFO and non FIFO families. So many non FIFO wives. We are all the same facing the same issues FIFO just makes it a little trickier some days. So I am forever grateful.

Blogging has created a network for me and hopefully you. It has created new friendships. Its has created a new resource that is invaluable in so many way. Blogging allows us to stay connected to someone, that someone may be on the other side of the world or country but still they are there. Each and every time I get a new post from my favourite blogs or a comment from you its like you have visited me and stayed for a chat. On a day when its hard that is one of the nicest things when someone just pop’s in.

Now I find myself searching for other blogs not just about FIFO but ones that will teach me something along the way. So my friends do you blog? Whats your blog and why do you blog. Can you recommend a really good blog. A good blog is like a good magazine or book. I just want to keep reading it.

Tell me and I will add you to the list down here…now be kind..I’m not so computer savvy…remember that…it may take me awhile but I will get you there.

Have a great Thursday my lovelies,

xx Deb

My B2 is five today. Five years old where did that time go. Everyone says blink of an eye, its not even that. I hate birthdays hate them. Well hate is a strong word..I want them to be my babies forever but they cant I know I know its a catch 22.

B2 was the cutest, ugliest and smallest of my babies. Nine pound exactly and threes weeks early he has the biggest most generous soul and yes I said ugliest becasue well he was long and wrinkly like his skin didnt fit him yet.He looked like an old man and in many ways he is he is an old soul but now he is fast becoming a very spunky monkey (he takes after his mother after all). B2 he thinks before he speaks. He is thoughtful and caring. He is funny and quick witted. He is smart. He protects me like a hawk and equally watches over his brothers that way. This year has seen him grow from a little boy into the beginnings of a beautiful young man. I’m beyond proud of him. He is all and all yum.

Last week the night before picking up daddy we where discussing a problem about ice cream sundaes. Before going to the airport to collect daddy we had decided we where going to the 24 hours McDonalds in the city to have a play, ice cream and stretch our legs. We chose our flavours and headed off to bed with much, much excitement.

We all laid down in my big bed my other two soon fell asleep I lay there excited that FIFO husband would be home then out of the darkness came, mum Im worried that daddy might be upset about not having an ice cream sundae. That’s not fair that he misses out. We should wait until he gets home and then go. Well bubba I said daddy doesn’t get in until midnight and we could go then but I know that you might be very very tired and daddy also. How about we ask daddy in the morning before he gets on the chopper what he would like to do. Yes okay he said. He wasn’t really okay with that answer, we should take an esky and some ice we could buy it then he could eat it in the car. Okay bubba I said.

He is the most wonderful beautiful soul.

Happy birthday my baby,

Xx Mum.