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My parents had me cooking dinner when I was 10 years old. This gave me the confidence to have a go at souffles, sponges, puff pastry etc.

As an Australian, have you heard of or read about PHILLIP PARKER KING? We have asked this question of Historians and they have not heard of him or his second in command, Septimus Roe or Bedwell the third officer. Most of us know about the Englishman Matthew Flinders and also Bass. King charter more of the Australian coast. Why don't we know about him.

If you are 22 to 27 years old think about these three as young men. They fought in the Napoleon Wars, Bedwell accompanied Napoleon when exiled to St Helena Island and then the three of them charted Australia. Amazing history. Why don't we all know this thoroughly? We read King of the Australian Coast. Have you read it?

King of the Australian Coast

Book by Marsden Hordern

Phillip Parker King has been described as the greatest of Australia's early marine surveyors. But while the achievements of Cook and Flinders are widely known, this is the first telling of King's story. ... Google Books

Published: January 1, 1997

Author: Marsden Hordern

Have you driven the Alaskan Highway lately? Would you list the highlights of this trip including any tips and advice? We plan on doing this in July 2014. Would you name towns which are worth visiting please and all points of interest. Thanks

It is amazing how some people can manage to pretend to be kind, helpful, fun, romantic, generous and then once they are married they turn into control freaks or at the very least difficult and horrible.

Their family and friends don't have the gumption or the skills to tell you what they are really like, so the whole family are cooperating in this scam.

So can we have a law which dissolves marriage quickly when it is proved that someone really is not nice?

really wonderful books lately. However, I found that the best one is is by Kerry McGinnis. I wish everyone who wants to know about Australia would read this one. I think every Australian child should read it too.

Pieces of Blue

Author: Kerry McGinnis

At the age of six, Kerry McGinnis loses her mother. Her father, left with four young children to raise, gathers up his family and leaves the city to go doving. For the next fifteen years, the McGinnis clan travels the continent, droving, horse breaking and living off the land. Kerry grows up in the harsh outback, and the animals that inhabit the land are her closest friends.

With the memory of her absent mother ever present, Kerry begins her difficult journey into young womanhood.

gloat, you come in next. What are the advantages of living in expensive cities? None as far as I can see. Apparently, if you purchase a $500K home in Sydney, $200 of that is in taxes, GST and government charges? If you live in an expensive city, why don't you relocate?

I added a few ingredients to this nut bake and it was really lovely. Still eating it and it is great cold too.

Cashew Nut and Vegie Roast

Robyn’s variation on an oldie

*1 medium raw carrot *1 med potato raw

*1 cup cashews *1 cup sunflower seeds

1 chopped onion 1 tsp salt

3 T parsley 3 eggs, beaten

2 T oil 1 T soya sauce

1 tsp or more ground cumin

Mince the first 4 * ingredients. I grated the veggies and then chopped the cashews and ground the sunflower seeds in the pestle.

We adore cumin, buy it as seeds and then grind in pestle, much more flavor – really worth it.

Combine all ingredients and bake for an hour in moderate oven. Serve with gravy. Is great hot or cold.

Would you like to learn to mend your clothes? Would it be a good community service to offer clothes mending workshops? I am having a mending day today. Also started up a knitting group where we are very productive and have lots of fun (including going out for lunch). How about starting one of these groups in your community?