Bear Park Berne

The baby bears, Urs and Berna, are out and about with their mother Björk at the Bear park in Bern. See what they're up to:

Out with the old and In with the new

You have probably seen our new kitchen on Diane's Blog. The kitchen awaited us when we returned from Sydney last week. Here is what happened behind the scenes by Kitchen Magic, Keith, Jason and Joanne:

The old 20 year old kitchen is removed

Nearly all gone.

The old cork floor looked a bit worse for wear so we had engaged a new flooring contractor to straighten out all the bumps and squeaks of the floor once the old kitchen was removed. Again, Kitchen Magic came to the rescue by recommending the flooring contractor and helping him fix the old floor.

Before we left for Sydney, Joanne from Kitchen Magic drove us to Rocklea to inspect the fabricated kitchen cupboards and drawers and pick the handles.

The day arrives where the new kitchen is delivered. Joanne took this shot from their balcony.

Jason then started installing the new kitchen.

The new kitchen is in and all that remains to be done is fit the splash-back glass under the window and above the cooktop.

Again, if you want to see the finished kitchen, click here to see Diane's Blog.

Introducing my son-in-law, David

We are in Sydney presently staying with our daughter Carol-Ann and composer son-in-law David who has worked in London in the position of Composer-in-residence at the BBC Radio Drama Department. He has receently completed 35 episodes of the popular children's TV series Fireman Sam Series 6 and 7 as well as Fireman Sam, the feature movie, soon to be released in Australia.

David has now set up a studio in Sydney and is currently working on a couple of films and a show called Imageless Film Festival for the Powerhouse Arts Theatre in Brisbane. 

David in one of his his studios in Sydney 

We are Grandparents

Hi friends in Blogland,

Diane and I are happy to announce that we are the proud grand parents of Fox William Curry who was born last night in Sydney at 10.30 PM. No pictures yet but I am sure it won't be long.

All the best,

Bill and Diane

QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY

Isn't it great to spend some time with family?

Antique Menagerie

In 1969 while visiting Switzerland, my mother introduced us to a friend of hers. This lady was very old and she invited us to her place for a meal because she wanted a chance to talk English. She had these carved farm figures which she inherited from her mother who had them since she was a child, so I guess they would have been carved ca 1820.

Diane commented how beautiful they were. A few days before we left for Australia again, the lady called with a plastic bag and insisted we have them, since she didn't have any children herself. We were thrilled and have taken care of them ever since.

A set of milking cows

The farmer and his dog

Of course some pigs

and some chickens

Bill's Spinach Pie (vegetarian)

We grow our own silver beet (spinach) and it was time to use some of it, so tonight I made what I call a spinach pie, totally my own recipe. It was delicious. (Recipe below)

Ingredients:
3 cups chopped spinach
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 Egg
2 cups cooked chopped vegetables (I used frozen mixed veges)
1 tub cottage cheese
1 1/2 sheet frozen puff pastry
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

If you want to add chopped ham or bacon, you can do so as well.

Method:
Pre cook spinach and vegetables and set aside to cool.
Grease the bottom of a pie dish (metal not glass) and line with defrosted pastry. Liberally prick bottom of pastry with a fork then sprinkle a little bread crumbs onto pastry. (This will absorb any moisture)
In bowl, mix onion, spinach, cottage cheese and egg thoroughly.
Place mixture onto pastry and sprinkle top with cheese.
Bake at 200ºC (392 Deg F) for 30 Minutes
Let cool slightly and serve with Salads

This post is part of Food Trip Friday - Click to see more Entries