Astarra
how do you store your pre-peeled potatoes without them going off or going funny? and do you know whether they retain their nutrients?
thx
Gillian

Dear All
a quick update on the ongoing delights...
managed to email and text husband... and then this morning received an acceptably neutral view on the matter from him - which of course I interpret as 'go ahead' 
So - the daughter who was sceptical about her sister's suggestion last night, is now coming up with names for the little chicks... we get to school and as I go to the classroom to discuss the matter of adoption and how many, eldest ex-sceptical daughter is in tears as another child in her class (not the chook class) has apparently been promised all of them, and his mother is there to pick them up.
I suggest a split or even minor share or even borrowing for a few weeks and then return... but to no avail.
So I, with a slight realisation that this might be well within my benefit (as we're off on hols in Jun/Jul and DH is on his own...), suggest that we'll look into the matter again after school hols...

Text husband to that effect... no response... he's probably over the moon... or otherwise engaged in more serious matters.

Day spent volunteering at local show... lots of egg-end-products (I'm acting as an unskilled helper in the baking section!)...
Pick up kids...
to discover that the kids have spoken, and we're now apparently on again for multiple chicks... and arrangements are to be made over the weekend as to the chick-exchange...

and that I'm coming down with a stinking cold...

So - as you can see, it's the exciting high life, action packed, and no doubt the envy of all good bodice-ripping, blockbuster, page-turning authors, that we lead here... 

I'll let you know (if you're mad enough to be still reading this!!) what happens (if anything!!) as and when it does!!!

thanks for all the comments and advice...
Gillian x

Dear All
as my youngest DD was going to bed tonight - the question arose as to whether we could adopt some chickens from school... apparently they've hatched a load and tomorrow (Friday), the chickens go (somewhere)...
should I get some?  and if so...
how many
what do I need to do
what do I need to get/build
are they expensive
can I get just girls
will they lay eggs for me (you can see where I'm going with this!)
what do I do if they're not a girl or they don't lay
can I keep them in the garden
are they easy enough for my husband to look after when I take the girls on hols for 3.5-4 weeks in July (am I seriously asking that question...)
what other advice would you give me

just fyi - we live in Sydney - but on the northern side, we have a garden (not huge, but not small), I don't have sons (don't know if that's really relevant), I'm a SAHM (most of the time!!), I've never kept chickens before, but we had lambs in the garden in England as kids, and a cockatiel flew in and we looked after that too, in the UK (learnt very quickly to ensure that his cage cover was on the night before... summer dawns are VERY early in the UK!!!!)...

I understand that ticks are a big worry for dogs (one of the reasons we don't have dogs, amongst many), are there any major worries like that for chickens?
are chickens expensive to keep?

if I need to get rid of them... is there somewhere/someone they can be sent to??? (I realise that there probably isn't but someone might have a relative who's a chicken enthusiast and would happily adopt them if we are completely incompetent in doing this....)

Please advise me as soon as you can!!! this is a time critical issue!!!!!! 
with great appreciation,
regards
Gillian

rather late to the party here - watched the horizon programme here in Sydney via SBS online, and was intrigued.  A number of other school mothers seem to be doing it...

I have decided to try it out - and had my first fast day yesterday - and i think I over-drank... too much tea with milk... which may account for not feeling all that hungry!!

Are any of you still progressing with your fasting...?  can you update how you have fared?

I've managed to find some interesting recipes online... and as i'm now into day 2 (and mentally thinking that i'm starving... which of course I'm not) I'll try making a large soup to fill the gap...

if anyone else has any ideas or suggestions or recipes... i'd love to hear about them!!

with thanks
Gillian

We love this recipe!!!!!

The idea of using the aldi frozen herbs is a brilliant one. And we shall try it with the veges too. Thanks for that!!

I will add any leftover rice to any leftover sauce and use that just by itself as a leftovers lunch!!   

:-)

Ditto!!
G

Dear all
It's only occurred to me tonight that I could ask you about a recipe that I cut out of a Sunday newspaper supplement, used, loved and then lost.

It was a puy (I think) lentil & potato braise with fennel seeds. I seem to remember it having an almost unholy amount if olive oil in it -250ml- I think.

I've occasionally looked online, checked out smh 's website, and asked around. No joy.

Please let me know if you know of it!

Thanks
Gillian