Yeah maan!

Brad and I have decided to adopt a country for this Commonwealth Games. It's not about Australia - we love Australia. It's just we already know we are going to win the medal tally (whether you count properly - gold medals first, or whether you cheat like the Americans and change the way you count when the Aussies beat you at the world swimming championships...).

So, we are adopting countries that certainly have a shot at a medal or two (don't want total disappointment!) but aren't seen as a big threat. Go the under-dog!

I'm going with Jamaica. Brad went with Cameroon (boo!!!) . Lets see who comes through with the goods... I'm quietly confident, but am a true under-dog. Apart from Asafa Brad's boys and girls look stronger, and I do mean stronger - they should get medals in weightlifting...

Bring it on Jamaica! Win some gold for you biggest supporter in the whole world... or not... but a solid supporter for the purposes of these games none the less!

For your listening pleasure, the National Anthem of Jamaica.

cynic-o-meter goes into high gear

Read this post at The Age website today http://www.theage.com.au/news/athletics/pittman-pulls-out-of-baton-relay/2006/03/14/1142098445129.html.

Turns out Jana Pitman decided not to be a part of the Queen's Baton relay this afternoon in the city for the Commonwealth Games which starts tomorrow night. Reason cited was the persistent hamstring injury. Oh yeh, I forgot that, and I quote 'She'll be 100 per cent when she steps out on the track in the competition [next week]'.

Do you know what would be really refreshing for once? Honesty. Why can't her manager just say 'We know Jana is having issues with both the public and the press, partly unfairly but mainly due to the fact she is a whinger and has just recently said she doesn't want to run for our country anymore. As a result we feel she may not receive a warm and friendly welcome from the public (who can blame them really) and also feel her safety may even be at risk. To avoid the possible embarrassment she has decided to stay home.'

What would it hurt to be honest? NOBODY is really going to believe after everything that has gone on in the last week that she really has a hammy issue. Usually when it smells like poo, it's because it IS poo...

Amazing potatoes and SERIOUSLY nasty burgers...

Well, I'm officially exhausted. I used to get tired going to youth camps, due to lots of things to do, lots of socialising and then staying up way too late... Now, having just completed cooking for nearly 60 people on one of those camps I realise just how easy I always had it! Being on camp is a piece of cake compared to cooking for one. (mind you, bed times of 1:30am, 2am, and 3am didn't help my cause any...)

However, I still had an awesome time. And thanks to all those who helped Sharon, Frij and myself during the weekend - we simply couldn't have done it without you all!

I learnt a lot and frankly if I ever have the opportunity/privilege/fortune/misfortune/any other word to describe it to do another camp I can see exactly where things need to be done better... Not sure it's something I want to put into practice, but at least I know!

Special mention to our roast potatoes on Sunday night. They were pretty much the best potatoes I've ever had, which was a big win given they were served up at a camp, when almost ANYTHING tastes good. (Almost... see below for exceptions).

Special mention to the burgers on Monday afternoon as the WORST thing we dished up - it's embarrassing to even call them 'burgers'. That name conjures up far better things than that food could EVER be! For those who were there and are interested, I asked Annie and Kate to go get cheap crappy ones, in the interest of cost savings. Sometimes homebrand stuff is ok, so we thought why not? Well, Annie and Kate came through with the goods! That would be commendable except for the fact that by coming through, they actually managed to take the term 'cheap and crappy' to a WHOLE new level. Seriously. If you weren't there, count yourself VERY lucky. To start with, the packet says 65% beef. Now, the obvious question is 'what is the other 35%'? but a BETTER question would be 'If it really WAS 65% wouldn't it a) Look red and not white like chicken, and b) taste like something other than some nasty deep fried stale bread'? So, I think the question should be 'why did the printers miss out the dot when printing 6.5% beef'? That is just false advertising!

Oh yeh, the one neat thing about these 'burgers' was that they had a really cool ability... Turns out they were self-oiling. That's right. No oil needed on THIS grill... no sir! But why does the oil look like mountain dew??? And how can such a small pattie hold that much of it?

Frij and I decided that at roughly 10 cents per burger we must have been paying for the oil, and the 'meat' was free (all 6.5% of it...)

So once again I apologise profusely to all those on camp who ate one and happen to be reading this. Kate and I made a pact that we would never again buy them for any reason, ever. I suggest you all follow that advice. If it's a white homebrand burger pack with blue writing (can't remember which homebrand - someone fill me in if you know) then do NOT buy them. Don't be cheap. Spend money and buy burgers that contain meat!

The Scoreboard

OK. It's here. The best thing ever!

Look to the left. Just below the picture of me with my head stuck in a very large fake-clay pot from K-Mart...

It's 'The Scoreboard'.

What exactly is The Scoreboard you ask?

Glad you did!

It records the number of wins between myself and Brad when playing driving games on Xbox... And just so it's really clear, I'm the first number, not the second one...

'Nuff said!

Culinary Genius!

OK. Tobie Puttock. Sounds like it could almost be a cross between a serious illness in the rear end region crossed with a dog...

No, not really. But it's late and the name does have a certain ring to it. Of course, that makes remembering it easier, so that's no bad thing when you are a chef.

Why you ask. Why mention this man? Well, I was given an interesting Christmas present from Sharon last year. A certificate to attend a class on making pasta by chef Tobie Puttock. Starting to make sense now? Good.

Let me tell you, this was absolutely sensational! It was a lot of fun. And Toby really knows italian food. Good credentials working in Italy etc. (I know, I know, a last name like Guccione or something might sound more credible, but hey...). Anyway, I'm inspired again to try my hand at home made pasta. Any takers?

Chatted to him after the class. Great bloke. I like people who have great experiences, know who is worth knowing, and yet still just act like real, normal people. Much respect! For those of you who know about the Jamie Oliver restaurant Fifteen, if you read up a few articles you won't see Tobie's name far away from Jamie's. Tobie was the executive chef at Fifteen in London, and is now heading up the Fifteen here in Melbourne, in the Windsor Hotel basement.

He also appears on the Aussie version of Ready Steady Cook. (Thanks for that piece of info Freindy - he's the one with the fuzzy/curly hair).

Google Tobie Puttock for more info. I'm a convert. The man is a sensation! and sometime soon-ish he has a book coming out. Stick it on your Christmas list to buy me somebody please!

OK. Enough shameless promoting of other people. I'm off to bed. Gotta get my sleep before cooking for 60 people on camp this weekend... (and no, I will not be testing out my new inspiration for pasta on 60 kids who wouldn't appreciate it anyway!!!)

Freindy the angry little man...

As most of you know Brad Freind is staying with us while Annie, Millsy and he look for a new place to live. They had a false start the other day (bummer guys!) but the resulting post in his blog is damn funny.

He's an angry little man right now!

Check the link to his blog in the the link section on the left hand side for the low-down. Really. Do it. It's funny!

Oh yeh, and I wiped his backside 6 wins to none on xbox Rallisport Challenge 2 the other night... Just thought I'd throw that in. I believe I said something like "you've got some time before you go out, how about I kick your ass at a game of something". The reply went along the lines of "Ummmm... I'll play, but I'm not so sure you'll kick my ass".

Poor Brad, he was serious too. He really thought he'd win :)

Bring it on Freindy. Any time.

Da Boyz!

I have told some of you about my mate in the UK who had triplets. (well, his mrs did, but you know what i mean).

The boys have some Nigerian blood in them, so they are the cutest things in the whole world! So, i thought i'd post a recent picture of them so you can all see! they are now about 15 months old.

(Click the picture for a better size)