3 months

Three months ago today we left Wales. 

We got up at a ridiculous time in the morning, put the kids in the car and drove to Heathrow.  We left behind our family, our friends and our home and stepped out into our great adventure.  And what an adventure it's been so far. And this is really only the beginning.

I couldn't help feeling that someone didn't want us to get here.  At Heathrow our flight was delayed because the air conditioning broke on the plane. Then at Changi we were delayed again because one of the trucks broke down in the way of the plane and we had to wait for it to be towed away and then again while we waited for a slot to take off.

Singapore was a lovely holiday on the way.  The kids made friends everywhere we went and had their photos taken by most of the airline and hotel staff.  We spent the first 2 days trying to avoid the haze, but after it lifted we got to see some beautiful sights! We even got to spend time with family who live there.  It was so wonderful to see the cousins playing together and having a great time!

 

And then we finally landed in New Zealand.  There are still a lot things we need to get used to and things from home that we're missing (marmite is top of that list) and it does feel weird being an immigrant! When I'm in the supermarket I stand in the UK section and just stare at the things they have imported.  Most of the things in the section I wouldn't ever buy at home, they really do choose some odd things to import! But those things that I would, I cannot bring myself to pay the prices they are charging.  In one store the other day I saw a packet of jammie dodgers.  The packet had them priced at 79p ($1.60) but they were bring soled for $4.90. There was no way I was going to pay that, so we just made our own :)

 I'm finding that I'm doing an awful lot more baking now.  The diet has gone completely out of the window! Partly because its so much more difficult to get dairy free stuff here and partly because I just enjoy baking... and the eating that follows!  Maybe I'll set up as a dairy free baker and sell to all the local cafés?

I wonder what the next 3 months will bring?

 

Biscuit recipe...

Ingredients:

250g/9oz plain flour

200g/7oz butter/marg

100g/3½oz caster sugar

pinch of salt

2 egg yolks

Any flavour jam you like!

 

Method:

 

Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3.

Place the flour, butter, sugar and salt into a bowl. Rub together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the egg yolks and mix into a dough.

Roll out onto a floured surface. About 0.5cm depth and cut out shapes. Round or hearts are my favourite shapes. 

Then on half of the shapes cut a smaller shape hole in the middle.

Place all the biscuits on a baking tray and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until light golden-brown and crisp.

Remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Using a teaspoon, put a spoonful of jam on a whole biscuit and put on with a hole on the top to make your dodger! :)