Strewth I only have to worry about various grades of field mice, the occassional rat, a sparrow hawk and the bldy midges...possums piddling through the ceiling...

How lovely your garden must be...I'm in West Australia and we have a few hardy capsicums holding on...now all of this talk of new potatoes as you say yum with heaps of butter...I like to make the Australian Country Women's Association cookbook and often make their sultana cake...we have a little Numbat living in our garden when the fruit is out and have watched whilst she/he eats lovely...hope the Possums don't get into your roof they could piddle their way through your ceiling...we seem to have lost our Bobtail Lizard and Snake which lay somewhere in our garden...last year some arsonist set alight to the golf course where they live and I feel alas they have gone...I'm sorry about your cat my Daughter lost her little Devon Rex to a speeding driver in front of her eyes we were heart broken...we have the wagtails breeding at the moment they are almost tame and keep feeding on the lawn even if you walk out wonderful

I cut myself off there so to continue.. house that looks like it should feature in a Jane Austin novel. anyway I did a picture of lily pads and the bridge in the background. I was quite pleased with it given it was an outdoor attempt. it is so nice to be able to go outside and paint. Do you have the chance in NZ? thanks for your encouragement on the baking front. I really have never attempted a cake since the disaster I told you about but think I will have to have a go. my gallery is angela angela if you want to have a look .. i did a picture of ducks which I posted there they sound like your little friends. I love painting birds especially. I envy Phil going off to Greece but will it be very very hot at this time of year? I love Phil way of putting things. I now have a leisurely image of him "slowly painting". it conjures up a chilled out vibe . Lucky Phil . Bye for now Angela

The weather here is lovely at the moment. I sneaked away for a couple of hours on Friday to have a go at some outdoor painting. Sat by the lake at the art gallery at Compton Verney in Warwickshire UK. It is a very beautiful setting with a

ADD Xanthan Gum...a GF substitute for the Gluten...about 1/4 of a 5ml spoon...in this volume of a cake. IT adds the structure similar to that of the offending gluten....Painting? slowly...a cameo of a Greek Church. Perhaps go to www.meltemiart.com ?? here you will see both it and the recent output. Both the heat locally [high 20's/low 30's C.]and the call of the of the ~os [Lesbos/Lesvos/Mitilene] for two weeks will put the art on hold...

Oh Angela...you should try this recipe, such an easy one and it cooks in an hour, so not so expensive on the power. I tend to buy my cake tins in opportunity/charity shops, they are well oiled/ysed and seem better quality. I am not keen o the teflon coated ones...is is easily scratched and comes off. Cheap too and I like the recycling aspect. You can get a Lite condensed milk which has less calories. It keeps well so can have small slices, or even try freezing half of it. I am on a diet, been on one for the last month :( not much fun in the winter but after the first week I become resigned)...it is encouraging when you start to feel and see the difference. I have increased my fruit intake a lot more and cut out as much fat as possible. I made smoked chicken salad last night yum...aded some walnuts, spring onions, finely chopped red onion and finely sliced raw mushrooms to the mesclun leaves. Enjoy yout warm summer days up there. I am always interested to hear what you are painting at the moment. C heers ~ Anni

Hi Phil, Yes my eldest daughter has recently started eating gluten-free foods so perhaps I make it for her with what you have suggested. I've used rice flour before in baking. I love the fruity smell of this when it is cooking and it makes a large cake which is moist,,,plus it is simple. I made Anzac biscuits the week before and they were very yummy (perhaps I share that with you next time) it is like an oatmeal cookie with golden syrup in, so much better than any bought biscuits.4C here now and by the clear sky there could well be a frist tonight. Whar are you painting at the moment Phil? Cheers ~ Anni :)

It all sounds quite idyllic. I am not much of a baker but my Mum makes a similar fruit cake made by soaking the fruit in tea before baking. They are lovely with sliced with butter, Yum. and a hot cup of tea. My last attempt at a fruit cake was when we moved house and I decided to get Xmasy and make a cake which was something I had never attempted. As my husband is a diabetic, and I am overweight and shouldnt really be eating cakes, there really was not justification for me making this cake other than I fancied the idea. I had to buy an extra large cake tin and mixing bowl as I didnt have any such utensils by the time I had purchased the fruit I was feeling very guilty about how much I had spent. In an attempt to save money on electric ( we pay a lower rate on overnight supply) I decided to cook it overnight. It was massive and would probably have been enough for 20people. When I got up it was burnt to a crisp. The whole house smelled of burning. I cut of the burnt top and sides- by now it was just enough for 2 people. just right ! my husband kindly said . Oh no . I dont think I will ever make a baker. thanks for your blog

Hi ~Anni a fascinating glimpse of the wild-life...the recipe also sounds good...if you substitute 125g Rice Flour & 125g Maize Meal [instant polenta] for the flour it becomes a GF [Gluten-Free] treat...HGW too...