Looking for Alibrandi has a lot to answer for!

Looking for Alibrandi has a lot to answer for!
                                                         Dedicated to all my cousins :)

Chances are that if you are of Italian heritage you have spent at least a day or two this Summer making sauce for the pasta...as in, from scratch! And chances are, if you have an Italian friend, they have had to miss some social event or other because of this need to make sauce.

Admittedly, today my mum and mother in-law made sauce for Sam and I...he was at work and I had a problem with my back (slowly on the mend). Thanks Mums!!  But I digress...

In previous years, I've had cousins from up North (you know who you are) as well as friends and aquaintances, lament the fact that they don't make sauce. They talk about how wonderful and fun it would be. I am convinced this is the fault of the movie makers who turned Melina Marchetta's book Looking for Alibrandi into a movie. Well, I am here to tell you that this (please play clip below)...

does not happen in real life, well at least not at a sauce making day! Sauce making days are NOT bright, cheery, breezy, sunshiny days where everyone laughs and dances! The reality is that they usually begin at some crazy hour of the morning in a cold, dark shed, after very short notice from the elders in the family that the tomatoes are "ready". Too bad if you have something planned for that weekend...the sauce needs to be made. It can't be bought. That's an Italian sin.

Different families have slight differences in the way sauce is made, but basically this is the procedure...

Lots and lots of boxes of tomatoes are bought...God forbid anyone should run out of sauce!

(Note: all photos taken on mobile phone last year).  Eager elders, complaining, lethargic teenagers and bored children gather for the sauce making ritual.



Enough for just my parents and us (mind you, we still had a hundred bottles left over from the previous year)


The tomatoes are placed in water, then each is cut open, has the excess juice squeezed out and is then placed in a bucket ready for the production line. Obviously bad tomatoes don't get past the human slicers and are quickly discarded. The people doing this job usually end up with sore backs from sitting on crates for hours on end and blisters on their fingers. The cold shed in which the day begins also turns into an oven at some stage (it is Summer after all), which is an invitation to all flies within 100 kms to come buzzing around and land on said people's seed stained legs, feet, arms and faces. So as they slice, they also swat flies... These photos though were taken from the comfort of my parent's suburban garage :)

The tomatoes are then ready for processing. They are put through the machine once, twice, sometimes even three times (this is at the discretion of the elders...the rest of us are usually saying "that's plenty" so we can hurry up and finish). I must add that the machinery has come along in leaps and bounds and is now a lot quicker. A rich, bright red sauce is soon ready to be bottled.   

Finally we have the sauce. Salt is poured in and hundreds of bottles are washed and lined up. These days the bottles are usually bought from a store, but years ago they were slowly collected, aquired from anywhere and everywhere. The same bottles are used year after year, so unless they break, they are basically yours for life.

Each bottle is then implanted with basilico (basil) for added flavour. This job is usually the responsibility of the youngsters in the family (aged 12 and under, it is the only job they are trusted to do). Certain cousins have likened this to child labour (again, you know who you are) and yes, I suppose by definition it is. But nobody really cares.



Sometimes there are no children around and an adult has to do the job.

Finally, the sauce is poured into each bottle by hand using a funnel. Accidents can occur when workers are too busy gossiping ie funnel fills, bottle overfills and sauce flows everywhere. If this happens, you get evil stares from the elders.

I don't have a picture, but the next step is the capping of the bottles. Beer bottle caps (bought new of course) have to be securely fastened on the bottles. Thankfully, there's machinery to help with that also these days. My mum carried such a contraption in her hand luggage from Italy one year! The capping is very important because if the bottles are not capped properly, they spoil and the prized sauce is lost. Thus, only trusted individuals are given this job.

I wish I had taken more pictures but I left production last year to take the kids to a party. The final step is placing the bottles very carefully in giant drums which then have a fire lit under them (natural or gas) and the bottles are boiled for hours until they are ready. It is during this stage that bottles which have not been capped properly may burst, causing a bit of a mess within the drums.

Participants get an obligatory plate of pasta at the end of this procedure, which everyone loves because the sauce is super fresh.

So that's it I guess. Some families add an extra step of boiling or steaming the tomatoes before bottling, but the above procedure is how you make sauce in a nutshell. It's not all fun and games. Whilst we do get to have a big get together and gossip session whilst making sauce, there are usually arguments about how to do this and that (even though we do the same thing every year), a bit of complaining here and there and very sore, tired bodies at the end of the day! If anyone doesn't believe me or wants to make sauce despite the hard work it involves, please register for next year's sauce making extravaganza! 

But having said all that, I kind of missed not making sauce yesterday. That's either years of indoctrination at work or evidence that my children have definitely driven me insane!

Please don't be shy to add your thoughts about sauce making day to this blog. Who knows if my kids will one day make their own sauce? I want them to read all about it. So if you're an Italian who loves or loathes sauce making, another person who has always yearned to participate in this tradition or even a person who has no idea what I'm going on about, click on "comments" below this post and leave your own perspective.

AUSTRALIA DAY 2011

After the recent natural disasters which have struck the country, I think everyone needed a fabulous Australia Day. The weather came to the party first, delivering a scorching day - the hottest Australia Day in 20 years. This was perfect because some sort of water activity (be it beach, pool or backyard sprinkler) is a must for most Australians.

We ourselves started off the day relaxing at home. The kids played in the backyard, enjoying their slip 'n' slide, playing soccer and searching for worms...which they found and named Willy and Jim as they relocated them to a new home in a pot plant...


The Slip 'n' Slide never gets old...



Clowning around



One day I'll get Thomas to not pull a face in a photo!

 

Daniel and his inside out bucket hat - very Australian!

 

Nonno playing with the boys



Willy or Jim?

No Australia Day is complete without a Barbie (barbeque for our overseas friends, not the long-legged impossibly proportioned plastic version), so that was next on the agenda. Nothing like it on a gorgeous Summer day...


BBQ King...except he burnt some lol

Lunch with my Mum and Dad...Thomas pulling a face as usual

Aussie Barbie staples - beer and sauce

We would have liked to have got in an afternoon nap, but that didn't quite happen. After cleaning ourselves up, we headed off to the city to have dinner at Darling Harbour. Flag waving, a walk along the harbour, pre-dinner ice-creams and roaming street performers - Sydney looked gorgeous!


Proud Aussies

Sydney Tower towers over the street performers

My in-law's, sister and brother in-law, niece and nephew joined us for a seafood feast at Criniti's... they'll probably kill me for adding photos of them! I didn't add the stair ones guys!!


Thomas and Sarah - Thomas, stop with the silly faces!!!

 

Jack and Daniel clowning around

 

Maria and Mario

 

My in-laws



Sarah and Sam

Me and Daniel



Our YUMMY seafood feast! 2 of these plus other food - we were stuffed!

We had to leave our prime position in the restaurant by 8pm and we were dreading standing amongst the crowds, but the waiter gave us permission to stand on a side balcony so we had perfect views. The kids got to sit and watch their first big fireworks display...and they loved it! I must admit, I was one of the people supporting a call to cancel the fireworks and give the money saved to Queensland flood relief funds...but when that didn't look like happening, I thought I may as well enjoy them properly :) The display actually started with remembering the many volunteers and professionals saving lives and helping out in flood regions...

 

Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi



Guess who "konked" out on the way home??



On a political note, I think the reason many indigenous Australians are opposed to or upset by Australia Day is the date it is celebrated. January 26th is the anniversary of white settlement. But I would venture to say that most Australians, young and old and from all corners of the globe, don't even give that fact a second thought on Australia Day. The day is all about barbies, sand and surf, partying and a PUBLIC HOLIDAY! It's simply about celebrating living in the greatest country on Earth - a land of freedom, where anyone can work hard and get ahead... And perhaps it's because those freedoms and easy going lifestyle have been eroded a bit over the past decade, that suddenly AUSTRALIA DAY means more and is celebrated more patriotically than ever before.

For all our hardships, I think we still live in the lucky country. We are blessed. And hey, now that Oprah's broadcast it, the whole world knows it too ;)

Happy Australia Day!

Hope you all had a good one!

Cholesteatoma

CHOLESTEATOMA    (kō′les-tē′ă-tō′mă)

and why Blu-Tac is my best friend

About 16 and a half months ago, and about 2 weeks before I gave birth to Samuel, I was diagnosed with Cholesteatoma. I had had a bad pregnancy health wise (suffering from an extremely nasty virus, throat infections, severe heartburn etc) and this just topped it off.

My left ear just started feeling blocked one day and I couldn't seem to clear it. After a couple of days, I couldn't hear a thing from that ear. This might not sound that bad, but that's because we take two functioning ears for granted. Being able to hear only out of my right ear was frustrating and very uncomfortable. Then it started to ache as well.

I went to the doctor (a few different times) and even tried a different doctor, but none of them could clear it. They were sure it was very stubborn wax. They tried syringing it out with water and pulling it out with tweezers. They instructed me to put wax softening drops in and return the following day...but nothing worked. A friend of the family even suggested ear candling, which I had never heard of before and which I wasn't game enough to try at 38 weeks pregnant!

Eventually the doctor gave up and wrote me a referral to an ear specialist. I was ready to beg to get an appointment straight away but there wasn't any need. I will always be grateful to 'Murray', the reception manager and specialist's assistant for taking pity on me and squeezing me in to the appointment book! I wouldn't have liked giving birth without drugs and a blocked ear (sounds petty now, but it wasn't at the time).

Anyway, the specialist took one look inside my ear with his microscope and said "Oh no, we have a big problem here"...not exactly the words I wanted to hear! I thought I was just going in to have a bit of wax cleared.

I was promptly diagnosed with Cholesteatoma... the specialist said that very fast and explained it all, then of course I had to go home and Google everything about it (worst habit ever). Basically, as the diagram above shows, a cholesteatoma is a benign growth of skin in the middle ear. It can be present at birth, but most commonly occurs as a complication of chronic ear infection...I've never really had ear problems, so not sure how mine developed. Basically, a cyst forms and fills with old skin cells and other waste material. If such a cyst becomes infected and grows, it can erode some of the middle ear drum. Bone erosion can in turn cause the infection to spread into the surrounding areas, including the inner ear and brain. If untreated, deafness, brain abscess, meningitis, and (in rare cases) death can occur. Scary stuff.

The condition itself is rare with one in 20 million people being diagnosed with it and it can't be seen with the naked eye (hence why the doctors didn't pick it up) but as it turns out, I have a rare form of the condition - lucky for me!! This means that like others, I didn't need surgery. The specialist removed the cyst in his treatment rooms (extremely painful) and I have to go back every 3 months for him to clean out my ear. A couple of times we have stretched appointments to 4 months but I've found that too painful - 3 months seems to be the right length of time for me. I'm never allowed to clean the ear myself and I cannot get any water in that ear - easier said than done! Hairdressers are the worst - they get carried away rinsing! I tried different things to block the ear but in the end the specialist pulled out a piece of Blu-Tac and said "this is the best thing to use", and I must admit, most times it works.

So that's it I guess. It may get better over time but for now it's regular visits to the specialist ($85 each time)! I had a visit yesterday and it had been 4 months since my last treatment. It was extremely painful...I had tears rolling down my face. My ear still feels "crackly" which is unusual so hopefully nothing is wrong. However, it's not the end of the world - I would rather be diagnosed with this than a million other things.

A GOOD START TO THE YEAR BUT NOT FOR EVERYONE...

Back in February 2009, I wrote a post about this contrasting land of ours...at the time there were floods in Queensland above us and bushfires in Victoria below us. The major story though was the fire, which engulfed whole towns at breakneck speed...people died as they tried to flee...the stories were horrendous...

Two years on and practically everything I wrote about is repeated, except this time only floods (and mainly affecting Queensland, although Victoria has also copped its fair share) - ferocious floods that happened so quickly, they literally swept people to their deaths.

Brisbane, for those overseas who may not know, is one of Australia's major capital cities. To see it submerged under water was quite unbelievable...

But again, it was the human stories that had everyone glued to the news. Stories like that of 13 year old Jordan Rice, swept to his death along with his mother after asking rescuers to save his younger brother first...and 23 month old Jessica Keep, swept from her pregnant mother's arms... so unbelievably sad.

The only consolation is that we live in a country that gives and gives when disasters arise...donations have poured in and something like 55 thousand people have registered as volunteers to help in the clean-up. It is somehow reassuring to be reminded that there are so many good people in the world (when we tend to hear so much about the bad).

Speaking of good, I was myself buoyed by the good start we personally had to 2011. A family proposal/engagement on NYE followed by baby news (not my own!) was a welcome respite from all the sadness that enveloped us at the end of 2010. The boys have had a good Summer holiday, visiting the beach (Samuel's first trip to the sand and surf), playing on the good old waterslide (like we used to do as kids), visiting Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife World (their first official trip to the city), riding motorbikes etc...

Hope everyone's year has been happy thus far.

A BELATED YEAR IN REVIEW

(The happy bits of 2010...or at least those I photographed)

Okay, so I'm a few days late...seems to have been the story of my life in 2010. After the sadness of the last few posts, I wanted to write about some of the happy times of 2010 to let the record show it wasn't all bad... So here I go with my pictorial tribute to the year just past...

We rang in the new year surrounded by friends. Our best friends. The ones we would choose as family. The ones we know will stick with us through thick and thin. The year that we were just embracing wouldn't end happily for some of us, but that night we were full of cheer. Good times :)

In February, Sam and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. Just a small celebration but very special.

In February, we celebrated our nephew Joseph's 18th birthday before farewelling him as he travelled to Perth to play professional footy. He is now training with the Manly Sea Eagles. Hope the new year brings him even more success - he thoroughly deserves it.

March 12th signalled Sam's 35th birthday - again he caught up to me :) Here he is surrounded by Thomas, Daniel and my niece Alessia - professional candle blowers! Samuel was fast asleep - he managed to sleep through most people's birthdays in 2010.

May was extra special as little Sara Rose was christened. Geni and Paul asked me to be one of her Godmothers via a beautiful letter that I will always treasure. My Goddaughter is an absolute cutie with a smile and dimples that will melt any heart! The added bonus is that i get to spoil her! My sister in-law Barbara made her cake - beautiful as always.

And just the month before family and friends gathered as we christened our own baby Samuel James - another sweetheart with a smile and dimples to melt countless hearts. He has brought everyone endless joy!

Just prior to this is March, our eldest nephew Pat turned 21! That must make us slightly old... He is pictured here with his girlfriend Daniela to whom he proposed. We have a wedding to look forward to in 2011!

Fast forward to June and I had the opportunity to finally do a photography course! I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to play with my camera much since then but I resolve to do more of that in 2011. This was on eof my favourite photographs - manual focus on a solitary hanging leaf.

A warm Winter's day at my in-law's farm gave the boys an opportunity to go for a ride on the ride-on lawn mower with Sam. They loved it!

The end of June brought an invitation to my brother in-law Vince's 40th birthday fancy dress party. He of course came as his idol, Elvis Presley!

Sam and I went as infamous couple Bonnie and Clyde...I read up on them and they certainly led an interesting life (while it lasted)! Many people commented on my new hairstyle so the wig must have suited me :) I briefly considered chopping my hair into a bob and dying it black lol.

Woody and Jack Sparrow had a ball and partied all night...they didn't want to be photographed but they did sit still long enough for a cartoonist to draw them! Will have to put that pic up some time.

But best costume in our family had to be little smurf Samuel (Sam's idea) - I think he looked soooo cute - pictured below with my niece Claudia.

A belated 30th birthday celebration for Renata in July saw us all board a water taxi and travel out to a private boat moored near Taronga Zoo. Some of us (ahem Ramona) didn't fare to well - the rest of us bobbed and swayed and had some great laughs! Renata - you're finally 30!!! Not sure if that makes the rest of us feel younger or older...

July also saw the beginning of our house. We've patiently watched it go from the drawings we spent countless nights on to timber, bricks and walls. It's still under construction but due to be finished soon. Very exciting times. Feels like we are heading home...

August saw me turn 36! I'm now past the half way mark to 40... my boys 'made' my cake and decorated it. All this happened while my mum and sister travelled through Europe for 7 weeks and on the same day that Australia went to the polls and delivered a hung parliament. Topsy turvy times politically.

My cousin Francene and her husband Graham saw their little man Graham turn one (how quickly time flew) and just over two months later welcomed a second son, Francesco Adam :)

The end of August saw celebrations galore for Thomas' 5th birthday - he had 4 separate cakes!!! Here he is at the family celebration with Aunty Barbara's Rocket cake (from Little Einsteins). He was happy to say the least :)

A short stay at my brother and sister in-law's place saw the boys take a walk to see some horses. They loved feeding them.

On Father's Day, my in-law's returned from their overseas trip and we celebrated with lunch at Lilys. Sam is pictured here with his Dad, 3 brothers, brother in-law, uncle and cousins. The family is much bigger than this, but I thought this was a great shot :)

September also saw us take a belated trip to Melbourne for my birthday. In truth, it also felt like our anniversary celebration. We visited the Titanic exhibition which was absolutely amazing! Titanic was actually the first movie we ever saw together so I guess that's why it held extra interest. Here we are on the Titanic :)

We actually stood on the recreated staircase from the movie! It was the start of an extraordinary trip through the ship and it's history. So very, very poignant.

We were given boarding passes at the start with a real passenger's details on the back. By the end of the tour, we were able to find their names on a giant wall to determine whether they had survived or not. So many names of the deceased - it was very sad to think of all those who had perished on a ship that so many thought was infallible! My passenger survived, Sam's didn't...

September brought birthday celebrations for our littlest man - one year old!! He had a Mickey Mouse cake made by Aunty Rosie on the day of his actual birthday. We then had a celebration lunch with just immediate family and his Godparents the following weekend. Barbara again came through with a cake - in the shape of a hippo in keeping with the party theme and Samuel's early nickname - Hippo! Lately, he has been called Toodles!

Special mention to my Nonna who celebrated 88 years in October. She has beaten cancer twice and is still self-sufficient, preferring to live on her own. We can only hope to be as resilient in our old age.

Daniel had to wait nearly the whole year but at the end of November he finally got to have his own line of celebrations to mark his 4th birthday! Here he is at the family celebration with his much loved dinosaur cake, made by my old school friend Joanne of Jo's Cakes.

The very day after Daniel's birthday celebration, my niece Claudia celebrated her Confirmation. Cake made by Barbara :) Claudia looked stunning!

December was all about Christmas. My boys are still 'scared' of Santa but they sat on his knee at pre-school to tell him what they wanted :)

The annual photo shoot was long and difficult but in the end we got our card :)

And finally, Thomas graduated from pre-school!! He is off to big school in 2011... I still remember the day he was born like it was yesterday... time is whizzing by! His Kindy year should bring plenty of blogging fodder :)

So all in all, lots of good in 2010, even though we can't forget the extraordinary sadness. I hope 2011 brings everyone much joy, good health and happiness! I will try and be more consistent with my blogging too :)

If commenting and you have your own happy memory of 2010 you want to share, feel free. I know there were a few other babies born, marriages etc etc that I didn't have photos of...