the fifo wife

True to form with FIFO husband being away B1 is sick. Head cold, man flu, I’m dying sick. Like every boy man its life threatening. So we have been up since 3am because well he cant seem to sleep because he cant breath through his nose properly and because the damn fire alarm is beeping every six minutes. Don’t be fooled into thinking that its that hot in here that the alarm is sending us a warning no…no its not. Its sending us a warning that its about to hit 6 degrees INSIDE the house and we are all about to suffer hypothermia.  Yes that’s right 6 degrees inside. For those concerned and I thank you the alarm is hard wired into the house and I have had it checked and it does work when its in reverse ie smoke but its a mystery it only started two winters ago..the alarm has been in the house ten years. Anyway its about this time that I get the fire going, heater going and occasionally when I get ticked off with the kitchen sitting at 6 degrees I cook something. Anything. Some mornings I will boil water just for the heat and steam vapour…freaking crazy.

Now I know what your asking. Why? Just get a reverse cycle. Yes I know simple. But my house is BIG. She is OLD. Her ceilings are fourteen foot with no insulation. Any where. Add to that she is so full of holes that well she could be considered a gazebo. In summer wonderful. Winter not so much. We plan to renovate her again. It was meant to be this year but we decided to have some health saving surgery instead…damn it. That’s when we intended to get a reverse cycle and because she is so old we don’t wont to just stick one in and then realise its well is wrong. Mind you she has already had one face lift and now needs another but the expense of that renovation is terrifying. Ah but this post was about B1 and his life threatening man head cold…neh he will be right. No seriously he is okay. The warmth of the lounge room as helped and I can hear him snoring him behind me on the sofa as we speak. Its sweet.

Seriously though he is unwell but okay. His grommets (in his ears) have fallen out so the fluid behind his ears is now gunky and like a sewer because it cant drain and equalise. Its infected. It hurts a little. Makes him feel a little off. It also means that his hearing is back to what it was two years ago. So he essentially hears me like I’m talking to him underwater…frustrating as crap I tell you. Frustrating because we where doing everything so well. People don’t realise how much hearing affects everything.

Ah well never mind. We are pumping antibiotics, yakult and everything else into him that may help.

Well my lovelies I’m off to boil a pot of water.

Have a great Thursday.

xX Deb

My boys are 6, 4 and 3 years old. They are little boys in every way from pretending to be spider man to playing basketball but when I ask them for their help they are men in every way and I couldn’t be prouder. Its a side effect from this FIFO lifestyle that they occasional have to step up and stop being little boys and instead be little men. Its not one I really took note of until this past weekend when it was just us, a handsaw and a tree.

Stepping up and playing a mans role is not something I ask of them often but when I do without fail they are there with all their might. They fore go their play with their friends up the road and help mummy shift furniture, mow lawns, hang washing and this past weekend chop down a fair size tree. Always without a whinge or a whine. They do it not for pocket money because frankly I don’t believe in it…yet..they do it because while daddy is away making money for us they are the men of the house and its their job to help out mummy anyway they can.

I dont worry that Im asking to much because when playing with their friends you cant tell the difference between them and their mates. B1 is usually hanging from a tree whilst b3 is roaring in your face like a dinosaur but place them in a room full of adults they are different boys they are little men. This lifestyles odd little side effect is producing independent, strong, fore thinking, considerate and helpful little men.What can be bad about that?

They make my heart sing. Truly they do.

Have a lovely Wednesday

xX Deb.

After trying many many bases this one is quick easy and delicous!

This makes three pizza bases and can be made up to an hour ahead of time.

What you will need:

• 375ml (1 1/2 cups) warm water
• 2 tsp (7g/1 sachet) dried yeast
• Pinch of caster sugar
• 600g (4 cups) plain flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil, plus extra for brushing

How to:

1. Combine the water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside for 5 minutes or until foamy. Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the yeast mixture and oil. Use a round-bladed knife in a cutting motion to mix until the mixture is combined. Use your hands to bring the dough together in the bowl.
2. Brush a bowl lightly with oil. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in the prepared bowl and turn to coat in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draught-free place to rise for 30 minutes or until dough doubles in size.

xx Deb

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 6 drum sticks of chicken
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 chorizo sausage*, chopped
• 1 cup (200g) basmati rice
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 425g can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 1/2 red capsicum, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 small red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped
• 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock
• 250g cooked prawns, peeled (if you have them handy)
• 1 cup of defrosted peas
• 2 tbs chopped coriander leaves
• Lemon wedges, to serve