What dry season???

I don’t know why it seems harder to get blog posts up this year – maybe we aren’t nearly as busy or interesting as we have been in other locations. In any case since we posted last we have done a couple of things, and it is probably time to update you on the happenings around the house.

If you don’t know, Darwin has two seasons. Some call them the wet season and the dry season – our experience thus far is of a hot season and a ridiculously hot season. Sometimes there is rain – but always there is humidity! What passed for a dryer season has now gone, and we are well and truly back into the build up. It is revolting! So, we have just gone past the 30 week mark (I say we, knowing that Jane is the one doing all the work), and Jane is having issues with the increased humidity. We are supposed to fly to Canberra next week which will be fabulous. Or at least it will be as long as Jane receives her ‘fit to fly’ certification.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have had a couple of social occasions of note – the Northern Territory Officers Ball and a gathering at home where I got to put last year’s anniversary present to good use.

We already had the spit mechanism, but no base to use it over. On the farm last year, we dug a hole in the ground – not so much an option in a suburban rental property. Jane built a fantastic base, and whilst she wasn’t entirely happy with all of the welds, I think it is bloody magic!

 Slow fermented bread in its final proof

Jane hard at work on the base for the spit - working with 5mm plate was a whole lot of (heavy) fun  

 The finished product, ready to carve. All the blokes stood around, beer in hand, watching the 'Man TV' 

 And this was all that was left. Lyndsay reckoned she wasn't pregnant, just ate her body weight in lamb

We put a lamb on the spit, and invited a bunch of folks over. In addition to the lamb, we served grilled marinated chicken wings, spicy meatballs, and Mum’s retro 70’s era cheese ball (one of the major hits of the evening). For dessert I made a chocolate chilli tart, apple breakfast cake, raspberry frangipane tart and a croquembouche. For several it was the first time they had seen one, and again I had to think how lucky MacK is with the exposure he is getting to a variety of food. We had about 15 kids in, and they all played really well together. It was lovely to see them split into a number of groups around the house, depending on what they were playing with.

The NT Officer’s Ball is held during the dry season each year, and as such can be planned as an outdoor event with 99.9% certainty. We were on the ocean front at the Casino, with a couple of hundred others in their finest. We ate (OK food), we drank (way too much), watched the circus performers (the theme was “Le Grand Cirque”), one of whom burned his hand during a fire stunt, and didn’t dance. The band was really good (but then the Army band always is), but Jane just isn’t comfortable on her feet for too long at the moment.

 Jane and I ready to head out to the NT Officers Ball. I reckon we scrub up all right! Jane looked gorgeous - and this was 'Jelly Bean's first frocked up bash...

Jane left early, and I may have left a little too late for comfort! Still, bounced the next day (as I invariably do), and cleaned the house… Other than that we aren’t doing too much outside of work. MacK is loving his gymnastics, and we are getting back into the swimming pool (now that winter is over…). I am coaching a rugby team at work, and have joined a golden oldies team called the ‘Stray Cats’. I am playing my first game for them this Sunday night in a memorial game against the US Marines, on 9/11. I will have to buy a comb and some hair gel, as they have me starting on the wing!!! It is probably more to do with my age than anything else. I guess if I keep playing golden oldies, I will eventually move in until I resume my rightful place at the heart of the pack!

Mandatory cute picture of MacK. He is ever helpful, and enjoys dishes and vacuuming. As someone mentioned, the boy is a keeper!