The totally off-topic thread

[cove]

Only a few make it through into Australian teams so despite many doing the sports programs typically about 15 out of thousands make it to the top in most sports.
It was healthy and tough and missing the cut helps them resolve to do the best they can in their studies and working life.

Because I had to kill 90 minutes each morning I went to the gym where there were discussions on half marathons and triathlons so I just listened.
Sadly we don't pay any 10% surcharges on taxis as that would be beyond my pain barrier for earning a frequent flyer point or two.

 

[erkpod]

Dreamworld is being evacuated due to bushfires. Lucky Big Brother which is filmed there finished on Wednesday night.

It makes me wonder where they are going to send people.

 

[Buzzard]

Have just finished the end of a week of early morning swim squad.
Daughter no 3 ( aged 10) has just been promoted. She's ecstatic, me not so as it means 6 sessions a week and several 0430 for 0445 starts.
The only upside is the opportunity to head to bed early :shock:
Think this might be the end of the midweek glass of wine

Early opener around the Newcastle docks?

 

[Pushka]

Lucky Big Brother which is filmed there finished on Wednesday night.

You call that lucky? Not for most Australians.

 

[erkpod]

You call that lucky? Not for most Australians.

As someone who has watched the show since day 1, I would have been interested to see how the producers would have handled it considering the number of people who would be in the BB compound at the time.

As for the evacuation of Dreamworld itself, that would also been of interest to me. Obviously the Incident Management Team of the fire service & the other emergency services would consider all the options.

I have not been to Dreamworld at all & I haven't been to the other theme parks in the area for some time. Unlike an Automatic Fire Alarm evacuation or a small fire on site, the threat of bushfire could have gone on for some time. So it might not have been a case of wait out the front for 10 minutes or so until the fire service gave the all clear & then returned.

Those people who got there by car could have been advised to leave early, as could people in tour groups (assuming their bus driver was around). I daresay conditions on the motorway nearby would have been heavy (smoke & traffic).


Those who arrived by public transport might have had to wait.

I'd be keen to hear what happened from a local.

 

[Ewing]

And the award for best SSID of the month goes to.. Drumroll..



"Pretty Fly For A Wifi"

 

[Shelf]

And the award for best SSID of the month goes to.. Drumroll..

View attachment 20420

"Pretty Fly For A Wifi"

There is a SSID of 'Skynet' on my tramline - love it.

 

[JohnK]

Why are some people luckier than others?

 

[Mal]

Why are some people luckier than others?

Some people dwell on the positives, not the negatives. This factors strongly into their overall life.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

[TD="width: 549, align: left"]
Todays email from Qantas - might be too ON TOPIC for this thread :shock:


"For the first time ever, Australia's renowned chef and Qantas Ambassador Neil Perry has created a Christmas pudding for you to enjoy in your own home. [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="width: 549, align: left"] Beautifully rich, the pudding is laden with only the best Australian fruit and brandy. This pudding is even more delicious when served with brandy custard – Neil's own suggested custard recipe is supplied with the pudding. It comes packaged ready to cook, simply steamed or microwaved. [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="align: left"] Available for a limited time only [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="width: 549, align: left"] Order from the Qantas Store before 11.59pm on Thursday 14 November 2013 to ensure a special finish to your Christmas menu.* Available for just 4,900 Qantas Points.^ Available for delivery within Australia only. "


It comes with a nice photo of a pud - but seeing I am not a fan of NP I wont be taking up the offer [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="align: left"][/TD]

 

[Pushka]

[TD="align: left"]
Todays email from Qantas - might be too ON TOPIC for this thread :shock:


"For the first time ever, Australia's renowned chef and Qantas Ambassador Neil Perry has created a Christmas pudding for you to enjoy in your own home. [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="width: 549, align: left"] Beautifully rich, the pudding is laden with only the best Australian fruit and brandy. This pudding is even more delicious when served with brandy custard – Neil's own suggested custard recipe is supplied with the pudding. It comes packaged ready to cook, simply steamed or microwaved. [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="align: left"] Available for a limited time only [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="width: 549, align: left"] Order from the Qantas Store before 11.59pm on Thursday 14 November 2013 to ensure a special finish to your Christmas menu.* Available for just 4,900 Qantas Points.^ Available for delivery within Australia only. "


It comes with a nice photo of a pud - but seeing I am not a fan of NP I wont be taking up the offer [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #ffffff"]

[/TD]

[TD="align: left"][/TD]

I don't work out points value in $ terms so I'm curious to know how much that works out to be.
I decided to buy the products to make my own pudding again this year, but because of a late decision I purchased the products at my local retail centre and not the market. Its going to be one expensive pudding so I hope it tastes like it. Already 2 cups of brandy put into the fruit for overnight soaking.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I don't work out points value in $ terms so I'm curious to know how much that works out to be.
I decided to buy the products to make my own pudding again this year, but because of a late decision I purchased the products at my local retail centre and not the market. Its going to be one expensive pudding so I hope it tastes like it. Already 2 cups of brandy put into the fruit for overnight soaking.

I haven't a clue how much a point is worth either - I leave that to dr.ron I also make the family pud, I am just about to start the brandy soaking .....

 

[Pushka]

I haven't a clue how much a point is worth either - I leave that to dr.ron I also make the family pud, I am just about to start the brand soaking .....

Mr Pushka and I were reminiscing about puddings being made months in advance and left to hang to dry. By the time Christmas came they'd be rock hard and countless times you'd have hit your head on them. But there is nothing like a homemade pudding. The bought ones just don't taste the same. Do you use a pudding cloth or basin? My MIL used to make them and shed spend hours trying to clean up the cloth each year. I tried that once then chucked it away and buy a new cloth each year. Currently its soaking in cold water.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Do you use a pudding cloth or basin? My MIL used to make them and shed spend hours trying to clean up the cloth each year. I tried that once then chucked it away and buy a new cloth each year. Currently its soaking in cold water.

My mother made the family pud each year - and I was the helper. She died at aged 93 a couple of years ago. But she had a fantastic idea for cooking the pud. She had an old aluminium pudding bowl and instead of a cloth she used oven bags. Two oven bags - one inside the other and tied very tightly inside the pudding bowl. I cook the pud for 5 hours and believe me it works perfectly and NO MESS !

 

[Pushka]

That's a great idea about using the oven bags. So the aluminium bowl goes in a stock pot then?

 

[cove]

If you were redeeming points at 4 cents each you would be getting that pudding at just under $200 but if you are a toaster buyer with points then the pudding has a value of about 25 bucks delivered. Not everyone uses their points for business class travel so if that is you then enjoy your puddings.

 

[JohnK]

Some people dwell on the positives, not the negatives. This factors strongly into their overall life.

I know the question was not that simple but had nothing to do with being positive and negative.

Why are some people luckier than others? Surely being positive does not influence the numbers that come out in Keno. Or does it? Have some people worked out the secret to life? Because if life was that simple I would start being positive all the time and win all the time. Not that simple?

 

[cove]

My wife is quite tinny when it comes to luck in stuff like winning. Not so for me other than in the stock market but I consider that to be work.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

That's a great idea about using the oven bags. So the aluminium bowl goes in a stock pot then?

Yes it sits on a trivet inside the largest pot I have. I don't use a lid on the pot and have to add boiling water every 15 minutes. The double oven bag keeps everything dry. The aluminium pudding bowl just gives it the perfect pud shape. After cooking it and it has cooled down it goes into the fridge in the alum bowl for a day. After that you can take it out of the bowl. The oven bag just comes off easily when it is time to serve.

 

[markis10]

Always felt funny eating pudding at Christmas, have been a firm believer in the last few years at celebrating Christmas with local food, be it bugs, prawns whatever, and don't mis the pudding at all.