There is an old Chinese curse…”May you live in interesting times”. (Actually, it’s apocryphal, but an apt way to start this post.)
The second half of April was indeed an interesting time. My poor mum fell and broke her wrist, requiring surgery on the same day that Small Man started his HSC mid-year exams. Which coincidentally happened to be the same day the huge Sydney storm hit (it lasted three days). The weather dropped fifteen degrees overnight and our gas heater died, joining the long list of breakages we’ve had in the last six months – the dishwasher, oven, airconditioner, microwave, alarm and our entire computer system have all needed repair or replacement.
Later that same week, we had a massive hailstorm (be warned, the video below is very loud). The hail obstructed all the gutters and drains on the roof, causing the skylight in the kitchen to leak like a sieve. The garden was completely shredded, but the chickens were fine. While we were trying to sort out the kitchen, water came in through the bedroom ceiling and soaked our bed.
It was a very interesting week.
. . . . .
Maintaining routine seems to be the only sensible option at times like these.
I continued to bake – I find it very therapeutic – and our overnight sourdough loaves are perfect when things are chaotic. Because they involve so little hands-on effort and prove on the bench while everyone is asleep, they’re easy to fit into our routine, regardless of whatever else is happening. I baked these two loaves to trade with Andy the dishwasher repairman in exchange for a new seal on the powder dispenser. I gave him one loaf for the rubber seal, and one for being kind enough to deliver it to us…
. . . . .
Fulfilling a promise I’d made the week before, I bought Grace a $10 pink wig. She refers to it as her mermaid hair. If you ever need to buy a hairpiece, I ordered this one online from The Wig Outlet and found them most efficient to deal with…
. . . . .
On ANZAC Day, after clambering onto the kitchen roof to scrape off hail and positioning buckets under the skylight and hairdryering the bed, we needed a simple dinner. God bless Tanya and her easy Spanish recipes – chorizo tapas and vegetarian arroz caldoso, accompanied by garlic and cheese bread – were quick to make and perfect comfort food for a cold, wet evening…
. . . . .
Over dinner, I raised the question of whether or not to cancel a $5 a month data plan on my phone. We’d put it in place when we were last away, but it hadn’t been used much in recent months. I pointed out that $5 was basically a takeaway coffee and it was good to have it there if we needed it.
Then Small Man said, “Mum, that’s $60 a year.”
Big Boy added…”That’s two dinners from the charcoal chicken place…”
Small Man.. “or a dozen games at the next Steam sale…”
Big Boy…”or eighty coffee pods…”
I can’t tell you how happy that conversation made me. It was reassuring to know that they’ve listened and absorbed the conversations we’ve had over the years about living within our means. Our sons never take anything for granted. I honestly couldn’t be any prouder of them. Needless to say, I’ve cancelled the data plan.
And you know, that three minute conversation was all it took to make everything right again. To readjust my brain and see the day as exciting rather than arduous, to give thanks for warm food shared with a loving family, to sit back and hold Pete’s hand and watch our sons animatedly converse over dinner as they always do.
. . . . .
Even during the most interesting of times, life is always grand!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Oh my! Wishing you a great month of May and btw your bread looks delicious😊
Thank you! May is already looking more peaceful! :)
I am glad to hear…all the best Celia!
It sounds as though you have been through the wringer. The awful weather in Australia made the BBC news, which is what we watch in Italy. Italian TV is unwatchable.
I hope your Mum is OK
.
She’s fine thanks Deb! Orthopedic surgery has come so far in the last twenty years – she was out of a cast in 10 days!
You know, I’ve been thinking about you lately… this was so beautifully written, I actually have goosebumps on my arms. Although I am thousands of miles away, I can relate to these interesting times oh, so well. I love how Priscilla gives you strength and inspiration during these times both figuratively and literally. And your boys- that was the best part to read. Good on you mum and Pete :) xoxo
Ah..praise from one of the great writers, thank you my darling friend! I’m still so excited for you! xxx
HORRIBLE! poor darling.. poor mama, poor garden. And thank you for the overnight sourdough link as it was WHY i popped in this morning. Godzilla son of Priscilla has been divided and shared with Jake! Hope today is better. Touch nothing.. sit very still.. c
Hooray for Godzilla! So glad to hear the loaves are still making everyone happy Celi! :)
It is a wondrous feeling to know your children are listening. I hope all turns well for you all. xx >
Misky, it always turns out well, right? :) Thanks lovely xx
The weather can be fickle at times! What a lot of hail! I can see why nothing survived, but there is hope of some of it regrowing. I can relate to the water leaking during a storm. It is no fun! At least you got everything dried up and the power didn’t go out! I hope your mom feels better soon and her wrist heals quickly. Your boys are a real blessing to you and Pete!
Manuela, we were very fortunate indeed that the power didn’t go out! Mum is well on the mend, thank you! Hope you’re getting some sleep, Mommy! :)
“It never rains but it pours” is also very apt to describe things but so much better to have your glass half full rather than half empty! Hope Small Man’s exams went well, nonetheless and that your mum is on the mend. (I think of her every time I chop off the parson’s nose when I roast a chicken…) Love that you were able to exchange goods with Andy! Grace looks adorable in her wig and your boys are just such a credit to you both, Celia x
Hello darling, yes, mum is on the mend, Small Man survived, the dishwasher is working a treat now, and Grace is a constant source of joy! Lots of love to you and Jake! xx
As my old dad would have said “Blow me down!” that doesn’t look like hail, it looks like snow Ms Celia! I think you nailed it. We do, indeed, live in “interesting times”. We could all sit around wailing with sackcloth on our heads or we can learn to take pleasure in small delights like knowing that our kids are on the right rails, having someone who you love’s hand to hold and knowing that we have everything that we need, right here, right now and knowing that that is “enough” :)
Fran, I love that you understand. I never want to preach, but I wish I could find some way to explain that contentment is a state of mind that we need to always work towards, not something we’re entitled to or something that automatically arrives when certain physical and financial needs are met. x
Contentment is such a simple concept that most people don’t get it. Being content and learning to be grateful and appreciate the small stuff and the fundamental stuff is truly the cornerstone to a wonderful life :)
Gosh! What a time you’ve all had! I hope Elliot thinks like your boys one day. What a great way to teach them to think. I’m so sorry about your mum (I hope she’s ok), you garden and your roof/bed. My thoughts are with you.
We’re fine hon, thank you for your concern! It’s still raining now, but nothing is leaking, my mum is well on the mend, and Small Man has finished exams. All good! x
Oh dear Celia, you really have been given more ‘interest’ than anyone should have to bear. I hope the future is much more placid, and that you and yours can relax and enjoy life in a much less interesting fashion. You should be very proud of your boys – how sensible you have enabled them to be!
Kim, thank you – yes, I’m hoping for a very boring May! :)
I’ve never commented on your blog before, even though I check it every day. I just wanted to say you write beautifully, and you inspire me to appreciate the details of life. I’m really sorry you have had a rough time, but the way you speak of it, with your ability to see the positive, smaller details, really moves me. I bake sourdough because of how easy you made it sound, and I envy the beautiful, friend and family filled life you live. Thank you for your writing, and be well.
Lizzy, what a lovely comment, thank you for taking the time to leave it. Hope you’re having a lovely weekend filled with warm loaves! :)
We have had times like that–everything coming at once. You survived with grace and good humour Celia, and I love your family conversation, sounds very much like us and our daughter!! Amazingly similar, actually. Good for us, raising mindful children–and good for our parents raising mindful children!! I do hope your garden recovers and your Mum is well soon. Big hugs.
We’re very blessed aren’t we, Ardys! Mum well on the mend, thank you, the garden is going to take a bit longer, I think..
Love the barter for the dishwasher fix. Looks like hail was very bad out your way, didn’t last too long here but yes we also had a few big leaks. My bread is sitting on the bench waiting to be slashed and put into the oven. Have a lovely week.
Pina, I reckon we could trade bread for all sorts of things, right? :) Your loaves are looking glorious btw, haven’t had a chance to comment on your IMK post yet!
Well if they had to buy one of these loaves they would easily be $8 a pop so definitely some value!
Bugger. What list of calamities. Hope your mum is feeling better.
Thanks love. Not calamities, just challenges. We’re all good this week! :)
The old saying ‘when it rains, it pours’ certainly fits here. We’re all here if you need us.
People said my mother could squeeze a quarter out of a dime and I think you and she have a lot in common. Still, it was a crap week for you and I hope it stops.
Ah you’re a darling, thanks M! I thought of you yesterday when I made a new recipe in my cazuela, will have to put it on the blog as I think you’d love it! :)
As Maureen said about when it rains it pours, but in your case that damaging hail storm. I’m so glad that you find comfort in your baking and in sitting down for a meal and conversation with your beautiful family xo
Thanks love! We’ve all had a busy few weeks, haven’t we! Hope all is good now on your end too! xxx
You know that I adore you… if there is anything I can do, even from here, please let me know xoxo
Strange weather indeed! I love your philosophy on life- it is inspiring. and I am desperate for some good bread.
Fra, that’s the problem with baking your own – it’s hard to go back to anything else! :)
Perchance almost the only sentences I remember from my two years ‘doing’ a BEc degree up at UNE in Armidale are ‘opportunity cost of money’ and ‘opportunity cost of time’ . . . your sons well seem to understand both! Bugger of a week for so many on the East Coast and do hope the last two nights of torrential rain have not added to the problems! The best!! Thank the blessed Lord it was not worse :) !!
Eha, we’re all good, thank you! No more rain related damage, and I think the worst of the rain might be over.. :)
I love your outlook Celia, even when things get a bit messy & tough, You must be so proud of your boys. Trading bread for spare parts just makes sense doesn’t it? Bread certainly keeps us grounded in tricky times, I agree. I hope the coming weeks are a little smoother for you! Happy Sunday x
Jane, things are always a bit messy and tough, right? I was telling a friend today about what wonderful therapy baking bread is. A batch uses a kilo of flour, which costs me about $1, so it’s very cheap therapy too. And we always have willing eaters! :) Hope you’re having a great weekend! x
Interesting times and extraordinary times Celia. Grace’s big eyes beneath her lustrous, mermaid tresses are so touching – I hope she grows up with your philosophy on life and with as much love as there is around your kitchen table – there must have been a small voice on your shoulder whispering “God bless us, everyone”.
Jan, there really is. I often sit at dinner with the boys and think about how blessed we are!
What a lousy time indeed Celia! I hope your mum is ok and that Small Man did well in his exams. It’s lovely that your boys are so mature and well grounded- you’ve done well mum and dad :) I hope life is a lot more boring for a while, with nothing but pleasant surprises sweetie xo
Becca, not a lousy time per se, but definitely lousy timing! :) But it’s all good now, thanks hon! x
So sorry to hear life is beyond challenging you and I wish a speedy recovery for your mum. I do hope things improve for you soon! Your breads are beyond wonderful and look forward to tasting them and meeting you one day! Hugs!
Joanne, thank you – mum is well on the way to recovery and things have settled down for Small Man, and the house is now dry again inside! All good things! :)
You are an amazing person Celia … and it just shows how some simple routines based around food can sometimes save us from all the other “stuff” happening around us … you have a really lovely family, and that is a credit to you xo
Gina, thank you – I find the bread baking is very grounding – it stops everything being too strange when there is a regular routine in place! Plus it makes feeding everyone a bit easier when I don’t have as much time to cook! :)
Yes that storm hit us hard too but at the end of the day all we can do Celia is be thankful we’re safe, our children can still sit at our table & converse with us & laugh & wrestle on the floor & eat SOURDOUGH LOAVES WITH HOT CHICKEN SOUP!
Your valuable sharing of your days is a treasure . God bless you Celia xx
P.s. Is there a chance you can upload a video tutorial of the process of your Starter/sourdough loaf?
Glad to hear you’re all ok too Lina! No video, but my overnight sourdough recipe has a squillion photos which might help? Link is in post above. xx
I’m so sorry to hear about all the breakages and the ruin the hail did to your garden. And having recently had a leak in my own bedroom, I know how annoying that is. Our roof leaked as well and there was water running down the wall in Alfie’s room – but at least our gas heater was working so I could use it to dry out the room – don’t want mould! xx
Charlie, it was a shocker, wasn’t it! Water running down the walls! Our neighbours had a small river in their hallway! :) New gas heater being installed tomorrow! :)
That storm in Sydney certainly was bad, sorry to hear about the damage to your place but happy the ladies are all fine :) I just love a barter!! What a wonderful man he must be…and beautiful bread Celia. Jan x
Jan, he zoomed over on his bike while the sun was shining on Anzac Day to deliver it! Great fun to barter! :)
Oh dear, there’s interesting and there’s interesting :( Sometimes we just want boring! Glad things are getting back on an even keel and so pleased we could be there with you in spirit over dinner! What well adjusted children….we could do with a little bit of that balance right now with a young visitor here ;)
Tanya, hope you’re enjoying the visitors! Yes, all smooth at the moment! :)
interesting indeed, and challenging – so glad you have your bread that must be comforting in such times – and your family who sound very supportive. The hail storm looks frightening and your breakages sounds stressful – I think you are due some good times – hope they come your way
Johanna, they’re *always* good times, just occasionally challenging. Does that make sense? :)
Wow! What a month!!! There’s nothing like amazing homemade bread, beautiful family and a pink wig to make things better though is there?!
Hahaha…that’s so true, Elaine! Although now I wish I’d ordered a pink wig for myself as well! :D
I think we should all have a pink wig! No one could ever feel down with pink hair! ;)
What I love Celia, is in the midst of all the calamity, you still bake bread :-) and still sit down with your family and enjoy a meal together… That for me, is a wonderful thing. I think if more families did this one thing, the world would be a much better place… Liz xxx
Liz, the hail and the leaking was a pain in the arse, but it was all fine, really. But it was sooo comforting to all sit together and eat a warm meal afterwards! I so treasure our meal times together! :)
Oh dear Celia. That certainly is a dumping (not only the weather). Hope your mum is OK and doing well. I assume you used good safety measures on the roof, sounds like it could have been a recipe for another mishap! Cooking and eating comfort food during those times definitely centres us I think. It also gives you time to reflect and appreciate the good times. Ying & Yang! Those spanish dishes sound and look terrific, hope they warmed the cockles of your heart :)
Maree, thank you – my mum is well and truly on the mend and it was only on the (relatively) flat corrugated iron roof, we were careful, honest! :)
Lovely post darling, bless you and yours always xxx hugs
Thanks lovely! Singing virtual duets with you over twitter helped enormously! :)
You made me cry… Again! Big love to you and your beautiful family! Xxx
Didn’t mean to do that, hon! :) xxx
Celia, you should be banned from posting photos of bread on your blog. They are inclined to give us all an inferiority complex. You are right again.. “Always look on the bright side of life.”
Glenda, you bake the most gorgeous loaves so I have no idea what you mean. Btw, I’m waiting for you and Maus to start planting, harvesting and milling your own wheat. :D
Don’t laugh, I am planning on making chestnut flour. :)
How lucky that you had picked much of what was in your garden! I was in Melbourne, watching the news about the ‘weather’ and horrified with its intensity. Your photos have shown me how devastating it must have been for so many. And then there were those horrible flood in Qld. 😦 So pleased that your Mum is on the mend. I hope that the next month is very smooth.
Hi Anne, thank you for the kind thoughts. The garden will recover and mum is doing well! I’m hoping for a boring month! :)
never rains but it pours…wasn’t it something! Looking back at the photos it all seems incredible and already a long time ago. We do hope your Mum is back on deck very soon. xxx
Nic, didn’t we take a bucketing! Glad you guys were ok too! xxx
Oh Celia, so sorry to hear about your mom’s wrist and all of your damages – we also recently suffered a leak in our bedroom – think we have got it mended now – very stressful for me, my Pete on the other hand says ” we will just fix it, we are safe and warm and dry so nothing to stress about.” Got to love my Pete and your positive outlooks.
Have a splendid week ahead.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, we should give thanks for both our Petes, they’re a calming influence on us both! :) Much love to you both x
I think that ‘interesting times’ can be overrated during weeks such of yours. I’m so sorry to hear about your mother, and the storm damage – never mind coinciding with the start of exams. I hope that all are / everything is recovering.
I loved the conversation on the better use of that $5 / month too :)
Kari, thank you – aren’t they cute? I love the fact that they understand the concept of money being a limited resource and needing to decide how it’s going to be spent. I think if they understand that it’s about choice, then it doesn’t matter what they choose to do with it. Does that make sense?
That is a lot of hail! I hope the weather behaves better in May! Take care, Carlos
Thank you! I hope so too! :)
Wow, hail! Do you get hail often? Your cooking sounds wonderful, I’d love to have smelled that chorizo cooking! The bread looks amazing too.
Eva, hail is rare here, which is why our houses aren’t really geared up for it. Heavy rain we can shrug off quite easily, but hail blocks up the big box gutters designed to funnel rain into the water tanks! :) And thank you – it was a really great meal after such a big day! :)
OMG!! I hope May being a better month for you all. Your rice look yummy!!
Ale, thank you, it’s such a delicious recipe! Tanya has the best Spanish recipes on her blog!
Sorry to hear about all your miss luck lately. Life does have a way of working out though, how wonderful that your sons are learning so much from you. You are my inspiration with our boys! Just this last week alone we had an emergency room visit for my husband and my oldest son got three stitches on my busiest day yet. Somehow we survived it all and are just fine. Sleep deprived maybe, but otherwise fine!
Ah Gretchen, sounds like you’ve been in the thick of it too. I’m glad to hear everyone’s ok, but two visits to emergency in the one week is a big thing! Hope you get some sleep this week! x
You had it all going on in April didn’t you Celia – I had no idea. And yet you still found the time to help me out with Lucy Lui. You are one of life’s treasures you know that right? I had no idea the hailstorm created so much havoc. Here’s to a kinder May x
Nancy, you’re very sweet, but it was no biggie, I’m just glad you were able to rescue Lucy! xxx
Hope May treats you better than April did Celia. I heard the storms were big, but it’s always a shock when you see damage they can do.
Jen, thank you, the garden is already starting to grow back – think we might go out and throw in some more seed soon! :)
I love your attitude to life Celia. It’s obvious that you and Pete are passing on these attitudes to your children. The world needs many more people like you:)
Jo, that’s a very kind thing to say, thank you! Stuff happens, right? But in the end, everyone was safe and warm, so it’s all good. :)
Sorry to hear about everything that you guys have been through. “Interesting times” is such a polite way to put things isn’t it? I hope that the rest of the year is smoother for you. And of course the boys listen-they’d be crazy not to heed the wise words of their parents xxx
Thanks lovely, new gas heater installed tomorrow, so we’ll be warm and ready for winter! Hope you and Mr NQN are having a great May! :)
The G.O. and I often send up quiet prayers for no news. Because no news is good news, and far more common than good news and much easier to deal with than bad news. So I wish for you good news, but if not good news then no news.Interesting times fall somewhere in the middle, and are an inevitable part of life. You have your priorities right :)
ED, you guys had a huge amount of rain too, hope all was fine at your place! And thank you, yes, a little bit of no news would be great for the next little while! :)
Thanks. We were away, and had no idea of what had occurred until a friend posted a FB pic of our street near the building where my car is parked… but all was well :)
Oh yes, you said that in your earlier comment, sorry. :) Glad it was all fine. There was literally a river down the main street of Haby – a friend of mine who was in the shops at the time couldn’t cross the road! :)
I’m sorry to hear about the awful hail you received! I hope your garden survived OK. XO Your sons sound like they’ve really internalized your values of living within your means. It’s something I value as well. :-)
Thank you! I hope you’re right and they have internalised just a little bit of what we ramble on about, but all we can do is try to set an example I guess and hope they notice! :)
Sorry to hear about your mum Celia, hope she is recovering well. Your poor garden :( Smart boys you have Celia, they must have a smart mum :) xo
Thanks Stefanie, yes she’s well and truly on the mend. Poor garden indeed, but it will recover! xx
Are you sure the dishwasher man isn’t sabotaging your dishwasher seals just to make sure he keeps getting loaves of bread? I didn’t realise you got weather like that in Sydney and am now wondering why (on this glorious sunny day) my sister, who is visiting from Sydney, keeps complaining about the cold.
Anne, for us Sydney-siders, anything much under 25C is cold. :) I met an older Scottish lady last year who was complaining about the Sydney “heatwave” at 28C! :)
That is a heatwave!
Celia, I think you’ve had enough interesting times to last you for 10 years! May your future be very bland and boring my comparison… ;-)
thinking of you, and really hoping that things will improve on all levels for you, my dear…
Nah Sally, I haven’t had an encounter with a skunk yet! :) All is fine, thank you, onwards we march, as they say!
Celia, I was just about to read your IMK post when this one caught my eye… heavens to Besty, girl! You’ve certainly lived an “interesting” life lately! SOOOO much to contend with all at once… somehow mermaid hair and beautiful bread and dinner-table conversations sound like the best way to cope, xo.
You’ve taught me well, Kim! And really, everything was fine, it was just all happening at once, but now it’s calmed down again! :) Thanks for your concern darling x
Oh my goodness. What a day(s)! Hope your Mum is ok and Small Man is getting to the end of exams. It’s typical for lots of appliances to break down in tandem isn’t it. Thank goodness for therapeutic baking. Sydney weather can be amazing. I remember being there in 1994 up for a conference from Melbourne. The skies were blue and we were on a ferry from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay. Suddenly the blackest of black clouds filled the sky and unleashed a deluge before clearing to blue skies again within 15 minutes. I have a great photo of the black cloud arcing over the Opera House.
Kay, thank you – everything is calm and settled now. Mum is out of a cast and well on the way to recovery. Sydney weather isn’t usually*that* unpredictable, but it’s been a bit whacky of late!
Those Spanish dishes were just perfect during rains or storms! Two yums from us to Tanya! This post was indeed…interesting!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Julie, the Spanish recipes are saving us of late! They’re so easy!
Celia – that’s a lot to go through and I love how you find the bright side! Your boys sound so wonderful and your writing about them makes me smile. Such a credit to you and Pete :)
Vicki, thank you! Our boys are such a joy to us, as you know!
Oh Celia! I really hated pushing that like button for this post because of the calamities but by the end you had me smiling to myself saying, “That Celia, if anyone can look on the bright side of things it’s that Celia!”. I still can’t believe the weather you’ve had & had to wonder if you really aren’t secretly living here in New England.
But what a wonderful family you have. Just reading your posts about your family tells me how blessed you are to be surrounded by love.
Ah well Diane, you know how it is. It’s hard to feel anything but blessed when we have families like ours! :)
Celia, if it’s not one thing it’s another. Sorry about the troubles I know they can be frustrating and I feel your pain, we had a similar winter in regards to everything falling apart(pipes frozen/busted, no water, no heat, no power, leaky skylights etc.), but you’ll pull thru. After all they do say good and bad things happen in threes, so look for that good it’s on its way. Hugs! :)
Emily, thank you – it’s all good really, Sounds like your winter was brutal – hope it’s all ok now? Do take care x
Sorry to hear about your bout of bad weather and bad luck. Baking and eating well is one of the best things you can do for comfort and normalcy.
Clara, thank you – it’s just that we’re so badly prepared for cold weather! We’re quite good at managing heat waves, but as a result not so good at sudden hailstorms! I had a friend who lived in Boston for two years and he told the most amazing stories of having to scrape of a foot of snow and ice off his car every morning before he could go to work! If we had that here, everyone would just stay at home! :)
Oh my friend, sending hugs and good thoughts your way. Sometimes I think that life is like a jewelry store where some one swapped all the price tags. You know what is worthwhile and that is what makes you rich.
I got a big bowl of “Big Mama” starter rising in the kitchen right now, thanks to you. I can’t tell you how much joy bread baking as brought me. Muwah! Maz. <3
It’s ok hon, thank you – I didn’t mean to worry folks. We’re all good here. Can’t tell you how happy Big Mama has made me – she’s turning out the most fabulous loaves for you!
Your boys are wonderful! I love hearing stories about them!
Rachel, thank you! They really are! :)