I'm writing this simply because I'm waiting for my the milk sitting in my sink to heat up a little for yogurt making goodness. May as well blog while I wait.

New Years was awesome. Ok, well the party, not so much. The fireworks out in the country went off at 9:30 and that was that. I guess it's mostly for the kids. Of which there were quite a few at the party (we could see the public fireworks from my friend's block, we didn't go to the event), and once the fireworks were done their parents bundled them off home for bed thus all my chances at sober conversations dried up. Only one other mum was there with her daughter, but her kid was older (I'm thinking four-ish) and she put her to bed in the back of their 4WD and then proceeded to merrily get drunk. Thinking back, they weren't there come morning. Maybe someone came by and drove them home, or maybe she wasn't half as drunk as I'd thought. She was Italian, and I couldn't understand half of what she said (despite living in Sydney's little Italy for two years now) with or without the goon. She made a fantastic hazelnut cake though. Mmm cake.
Anyway so I was, as expected, the only sober person at the party. Obi made some friends and seemed to have a blast (and too much Whiskey, I was a little afraid I'd wake up in his vomit during the night) which was really great to see, and Isis was perfectly well behaved like usual, for which I got many compliments even though it's her nature not anything fantastic I'm doing, staying up until midnight and then bunking down in the tent without a fuss. It was nice watching the other little kids trying to play with her too. But I was pretty damn bored, to be honest.

C, that other mate from school I mentioned I'd be seeing, had a load of issues/family stuff she wanted to talk over and it got quite depressing. And it was hard to offer comfort, because she'd allude to things but never actually say what the problem was/had been. Frustrating. I'm happy to listen, but give me the meaty part of the sandwich, don't dance around the subject, you know? She's been down for at least a year now because she doesn't have a partner, isn't married, no kids on the horizon and 30 fast approaching - that at least I know. I feel that! It's hard not to be where you had hoped you'd be in life. But on the other hand she has a career and has traveled pretty extensively. She's not wasting her life. Anyway, so the party mood wasn't really happening for me, but then I'm a home-with-a-good-book person, so no real loss.

The next day is actually where all the awesome happened, because I got some quality time with my friend Em, the host. We actually got to talk, really talk, for the first time in... Gods, I don't know, since we were in primary school together! It made the whole trip worth it. And the drive home (and there too) was safe and uneventful, I really enjoyed it.

On the way there we stopped in my home town for "dinner" with some other mates. Off topic - but I'm not keen on the country for yet another reason - the food. It's hard to find good high-quality food out in the sticks. It's all home-style this and Australian that. The great thing about Australian food? It usually doesn't come from here. I'm sorry, I don't really want to pay to eat meat pie, stew or anything that I can make myself at home better and cheaper. And of course being knocked up, half the menu was off limits anyway. I ordered pancakes because they are good any time, and hey $6.90 is ok for pancakes right? Well it was one pancake and the fact it was pretty big didn't make up for the where-are-the-other-two? factor. On the bright side it was my mate's shout because I shouted last time I saw them (also nearly a bloody year ago!) so I can't actually complain.

You know what's awkward though? Friends who are desperate to get married and who expect you to help pressure their partner. Yeah, no. I'm sorry. But, no. For starters, though I'm closer to the chick in this couple now, I'm only mates with her because I was friends with him and she started coming along when I'd see him to lay down the law/stake her claim. Even though I wouldn't do him with another woman's vagina - and I had my chance and passed it up in the same way I'd pass up rabies. Secondly, she compares her life to mine a LOT (we talk fairly regularly on facey) but conveniently forgets I'm four odd years older than her. Yes, we were in the same class in high school, but that doesn't make us the same age it just makes me lame.
Moreover, she also has a career, which I won't for a few more years. Was I married and breeding at 22? NO! No where near! So what's the hurry?

I get that they've been together four odd years and all, but he's not ready, and that's that.

Isn't it better to just shut up and wait patently for him to get there on his own than to wonder for the rest of your life, every time you have a spat or feel insecure, whether or not he actually wanted to marry you, or if he just did it to get some peace? I don't understand women.

Anyway so Lucybelle, if you're reading this... Yogurt! I read so many conflicting things. My first batch was alright, but a bit runny/lumpy. (If you've ever eaten Jalna pot-set yogurt it was exactly like that. The texture freaks me out) So, as per the instructions, I've added some powdered milk to my UHT this time to make it thicker. Problem is, some sources say you have to re-heat treat the milk (to 90 degrees) when you do this, and some say you just add the powered and bob is your aunty. I figure, being powdered, it's probably been processed a lot and is safe to not re-heat so I didn't. But I'll listen to any advice you have because you've been doing this longer.

Back to my ramble, I'm making it my NY resolution to actually visit my mates/family more often this year, particularly those who live out of town. It's so worth the effort and not even that much of an effort now we have a car. I need to not leave it 12 months in between visits!

That'll do. I'm going to go and think about seducing my husband, not because I'm particularly horny but because it does good things for our relationship. Yes, good plan.
Ni ni people of LFAD blogside.