A little bit of this! And a bargain at the price.

Funny thing, the price of clothes quite often is beyond our means. Our financial means, that is. Yet we know we want something a bit different, but don't quite know where to get it.

I found a remnant piece of fabric today at the local fabric store. A large carton of off-cuts was sitting there, with a placard stating "50 cents a piece". I casually looked at the carton while walking through to store back to the office after lunch, and then stopped and went back.

Here was just what I wanted. A piece of material in a lovely silky taffeta. I unfolded it, and saw that it was ample for a number of projects. It could be used for a waistcoat; a cami; a cummerbund or even (and this is what I really wanted it for) a sarong.

The girls at the office had been talking all morning about what they were planning to wear at a Christmas get-together. Some had even put new clothes on lay-by and had been paying them off for months.

But me? I'm going to ask a girl friend who does alterations and sewing just to sew up the side seam and hem and make a waistband through which she can thread a drawstring, and I'll have a sarong to sing about!

For 50 cents!!!

.....Autumn Parry

The state of the weather!

I realised this morning that a few weeks have passed by since posting. I can't say I wasn't aware that our blog had been ignored for a little while, but certainly not this long.

I can't recall when I've heard so many people speaking about the one subject. Not only here but through our networks of women overseas. People are of course always concerned with the basics of life - the economic downturn; the health and welfare, the education and the safety of our peoples together with more personal things like the bills we have to pay; and more likely than not "the weather" comes in for some discussion.

During the past couple of months however, conversations have included the plight of those people in Asia (Vietnam and the Philippines and Indonesia) affected by the adverse flooding and tornadoes; then the tsunami which hit Samoa and American Samoa, Tonga and other islands in the Pacific. Those references haven't only been for a day or two, but they've continued.

Now this past week has brought a deluge (literally) of flooding to England, Scotland and Wales. "Inclimate weather" is how they describe it. On this side of the world, bushfires have already appeared and are still burning in three States. The fact that we haven't even begun our summer season seems irrelevant.

But young and old are talking about the "global warming" - as if coming to a conclusion will enable the powers-that-be to right the situation overnight. That's impossible. Making any one country (and it's people) feel guilty about the fact that the world is affected by global warming (and there's plenty of debate on this particular angle) isn't fair or warranted. You can't insist that one country putting into place guidelines and penalties for not only industry or big business but also the ordinary person (you and me) and to then sit back believing that the problem is solved. It's not that easy - it has to be a concerted effort by everyone.

Scientists are not all in agreement as to what is happening, nor why it is happening. If any reasonable person looks att history, they'll see that this sort of thing has been cuclic since ttime began. Many scientists are even claiming we're entering into an Ice Age and that the out of proportion heatwaves and droughts are merely attempts by the planet to set the situation right. And there are always "conspiracy theories".

But whatever, there is plenty of debate, and plenty of talk, and plenty of scare tactics, making people confused and unsure of what is going on around them and with their lives.

..... Leonie Stevens

Looking outside the Square!

There's a "trendy" saying at the moment to look outside the square! It doesn't take much to work out what this is saying - let's stop having tunnel vision particularly as it relates to age, size and shape, and to recognise everyone for who and what they are, not what they look like.

While we all agree on this point, Casey surprised us all by her suggestion that looking outside the square also applies to plus-size fashion.

Eagerly waiting for her to go on, she explained that she had just spent the day before visiting all the local Op Shops in the area nearest her home. In all she managed to go to seven, and because she had planned the day and allocated herself a budget to spend, she went with the attitude that if she saw something she liked and it fitted her, that she'd buy, without any guilt feelings. Apart from clothing, Casey had invested in a beautiful Queen Anne dressing table which cost her $50 as well as a Queen Anne china cabinet which cost $35. As you can tell she loves old-fashioned things and these two items especially will grace her house with pride.

So during a lull in the office, we gathered around Casey's desk while she opened up a number of bags and bought out among other things, some snazzy long-line summer dresses (ankle length) two of which were reversible giving her options in different colour schemes (what a great idea - why don't we see this idea more often?); slim pants, a number of silk shirts, and an exquisite jacket heavily embroidered, with purple lining. Each of the girls in the office expressed oohs and aahs when they saw these garments had top-brand labels still with price tags still attached.

It was almost impossible to believe that the clothes Casey had bought were new and had never been worn while those which were pre-loved were in excellent condition and would quite easily have passed as having just come off the production line.

What was incredible however was that not one piece of the clothing Casey bought cost her more than $10. No, not even the embroidered jacket.

There's been too much hype of "stigma" from many women who shout about the indignity of going into Op Shops to buy clothes - this is stupid because unless as Casey says, we look outside the square how can we find absolute bargains like this, at affordable prices? Casey had set herself a budget of $200 and she came home with change after buying furniture which she has been wanting for a long time and a new wardrobe of clothes that will see her set for her upcoming holidays, when it is thought she will be meeting her future in-laws! She'll certainly make a statement!

Sweet Violets!

It's a matter of fact that everyone associated with our group is not young, slim, trim and thin! We're individuals and we're all ages, shapes and sizes, and we delight in our uniqueness. From size 6 through to size 30! That gives you a fair idea of our differences. And that's good because we have a great respect for each other and can talk about all manner of things, without any undue feelings of treading on each other's feet or feelings! We all share an enjoyment in things of mutual pleasure, including food.

During a short break yesterday afternoon,we got talking about old-fashioned recipes. Not that we all potter around in the kitchen when we go home of an evening after hard days work on the keyboard, but most of us enjoy eating or drinking special meals and treats served up by those who do. Yes, we meet and mingle after hours too!

Autumn mentioned recipes containing flowers and this created a lot of interest with the younger members of the team who expressed surprise as they didn't know that flowers could be eaten or be ingredients in drinks and other confectionery as well as beauty preparations. There's a lot of trading of information going on among us. We all have a lot to learn from each other and enjoy doing so.

One of Autumn's favourite drinks is Violet Lemonade. Here's her recipe, passed down through her mother from her grandmother, and no doubt passed down to her from other women in the family.

Violet Lemonade

1 cup violets sugar to taste
juice of 6 lemons crushed ice and fresh violet flowers, to garnish
1-1/4 pints mineral water (750 mls)

Place violets in a china bowl, with lemon juice and put in the refrigerator overnight. Juice will become pink. Strain off the violets and add juice to jug of chilled sparkling mineral water. Add sugar (or more lemon juice) to taste, stir through crushed ice. Before serving, add a few violets on top.

As soon as lemonade was mentioned, Dawn suggested we begin a habit of making some simple old-fashioned recipes up to share with our morning/afternoon tea breaks. When Autumn was mentioning the name of the Violet Lemonade, Dawn raised her eyebrows and laughingly said she'd bring in some Lemonade Scones for tomorrow's treat.

Will let you know how these go down!!!

Good manners - are they disappearing too quickly?

Leonie arrived back from her doctor's appointment for morning coffee with the team here. She was furious. Not because she was running late and not because she couldn't find a parking spot.

She sat down, ordered her favourite latté (the one that "bounces") and then told us about her appointment. Acknowledging the fact that doctors lists seem endless, and appointments have to be made at six weeks in advance, this in no way excused the treatment and attitude of the doctor when Leonie at last was called into his rooms, a matter of an hour and a half after when her appointment was scheduled.

Leonie is organised, so much so that everywhere she goes she writes herself lists and ensures that everything on that list is attended to before attending to other matters, like visiting the Body Shop and buying all sorts of lovely beauty treatments as a special treat (which she does quite often!), or doing some window-shopping or taking sandwiches down to the local park to watch the ducks on the lake.

So we were most surprised when she regaled what had happened this morning.

Let her explain: The Dr was in a bad mood and this was quite obvious from his first comments, "well what do you want today?" I had my short list and told him I needed a repeat prescription, as well as wanting to know the results of some blood tests he had arranged for me a fortnight ago. Yet it was the request for a referral document to a specialist that really got him going and following a tirade which lasted about 8 minutes, I was so stunned that I began to shake and was near to tears. I quickly quelled that feeling. His reason for the tirade? Completing the documents took him too long and he felt I was asking too much! When I explained that the specialist had asked for this paperwork, he mumbled and grumbled and slapped his keyboard in time with his deep and exasperated sighs.

I couldn't believe it when he asked me why I visited the specialist in the first place (it was at his own direction); and demanded to know why I was visiting him to do my paperwork and to get my BP reading as well as write out a new prescription for a tablet he put me on a matter of six months ago. He sat back in his chair and loudly said "I'm not your Doctor so why am I in the picture?"

It took me only 5 minutes to prove that he had accepted me as a patient more than 8 months ago, when another Dr at the same practice had left, and that I had been to see him every six weeks during that time (at his request) He went through the records and had to admit I was right.

I then said to him, "Dr, I know you're busy and by the same reasoning I know that I need a referral. You've made me feel a nuisance and I would hate to think that after all this time that it is not my size that is affecting your attitude towards me today. It's not something that bothers me usually, but this morning you've shown annoyance with me beyond just your being busy."

The doctor then stood up, opened the door and almost pushed me out into the corridor. I smiled sweetly and said, as I walked towards the exit, "I do hope you have a good day and are much nicer to your next patient".

This sort of story is repeated day in and day out, for countless thousands of women. Leonie doesn't jump to conclusions or make assumptions about people and their attitudes, but as she spoke this morning, each of us wondered whether size had come into the equation. Or was that simply imagination?

Why is everyone so intent on telling us ...........

If you're a "mad" collector of books, like me, then in amongst all your bookcase shelves, you're bound to have some cookery books. There'll be favourites that bear the imprint of spills and dogeared corners, and there'll be those that look as though they've just come home from your bookstore.

In my case those that still look new, even though some of them are more than 40 years old, are much more than a guide to creating and making special meals, whipping up a favourite cake or even just throwing some ingredients together to form a "comfort food" need. They have become favourite picture books that I take down from the bookshelves when I feel a little low in spirits, and I can quite happily become engrossed for hours on end, merely looking at the photos, appreciating the recipes themselves, and realising that the photos in themselves provide me with pleasure. I may wish that I will use the recipe to recreate what appears in the photo, and I may not. I find that indulging in day-dreaming is sometimes nice too.

Most of my "old" cookbooks don't have pictures though, and this is where imagination takes over, as well as memories of the fun and joy of cooking and baking for my family. A number of my books were published during and after the second world war, and while the ingredients were in many cases hard to find, the main staples formed the basis of much cooking. Surprisingly, one was able to easily change a basic recipe with a little forethought, and the usage and combination of many spices that gave flavours and textures to the food cooked and prepared that today seem boring and uninteresting. But this is where food retains its individuality and its appeal. I even remember I had a recipe book that gave 365 recipes for minced steak (when minced steak was almost the cheapest meat to buy), and they were all different. I know, for when things were tight during a recession back in the early 1960s, I made every one of those 365 recipes, and they were definitely not boring.

I've noticed lately that restaurants quite often include some of the "old-fashioned" meals. Take for instance - steak and kidney pie; lamb shanks; roast and yorkshire pudding. Then there's bread and butter custard; junket; golden syrup pudding served with custard. I even saw on the menu last week at a local "pub", brains. I've got to admit I've never eaten them, but it certainly looked as though a lot of people were eager to try.

But why is everyone so intent on telling us that we shouldn't eat this and shouldn't eat that? Food is something personal, and while I can accept the fact that "healthy" food is what we should be aiming for, this doesn't take away the fact that there are times when we need "comfort food". Just watch some of the Nigella Lawson tapes or DVD's and you'll see what I mean. Go back a bit further and watch the 2 Fat Ladies - well, yes, I have to agree that some of the meals prepared in duck fat and such wouldn't meet my own individual taste,but there were lots of recipes that I felt (and I'm sure other viewers felt as well) I'd like to taste. Go back further still to our very own Margaret Fulton who made, and continues to make, a big impression on our food and how we prepare and serve it.

But we don't need to go back to find recipes that fulfill all our expectations and needs. My favourite at the moment is David Herbert - he even quotes many of his recipes as being handed down from his mother, and aunts. I know there are countless cooks and chefs who write books that when published are big and heavy (and are priced accordingly), but sometimes I think it's the simple little newspaper cutting from the 1930s or 1940s that give me such pleasure in producing in my own kitchen.

And speaking of cookery books, I have two absolutely favourites. Both are scrapbooks - one which my mother started in the early 1930s, and my own which I began in the 1950s (and I have to admit I still add to it whenever I find a tempting recipe).

The Tongue Patch or should that be tongue in cheek?

Is the world going mad, or what?

I read today that "the award for the most ridiculous "weight loss treatment" goes to the Chugay Tongue Patch, a tiny patch of mesh surgically attached to the tongue to make eating painful, which is taking Southern California by storm." (From the Weekend Australian 10/11 Oct 2009).

Perhaps the reporter was actually talking with tongue in cheek?