Around here

Brisbane has just come out of a snap 3 day lockdown which was sparked by a cleaner from a Quarantine Hotel contracting the very contagious UK strain of the Coronavirus.  It was a rainy weekend so it was nice to be inside and it was the first weekend after my sister was here when we were out and about every day so I didn't mind a quiet weekend.  I was going to have my friend's dog Billy for the week and my sister was due to come over and have a coffee and help me take down the Christmas Tree and decorations.  Both of those things didn't happen and it wasn't a big deal, not like someone who was perhaps getting married on the Saturday who the lockdown would have been huge.  I really support our Chief Health Officer and Premier looking after the welfare of Queenslanders.  I feel so lucky to be Australian and it's really scary what is still happening overseas. 

As you know my sister came to visit and see my Mum and she flew back to Perth on the 4th January and then on the Wednesday she got the message that she had to get a Covid test and isolate for 14 days at home because the Western Australia Premier declared Greater Brisbane a hot spot. She is not a home body so is finding it hard although her house is getting a good declutter so that's a good thing.  Whilst she was here we didn't go to any major shopping centers and we live on the Northside of Brisbane so no where near where the UK strain was detected.  It was a bit of a shock to her when she found she had to isolate as when we went into lockdown we thought her visit was well timed because she was back in Perth.  All of this is totally understandable and not having to do that in a hotel with the expense is a good thing.  This is life in 2021 and as I mentioned, 2020 and 2021 are going to be much the same even though everyone wanted to put 2020 behind them.  This is life in a Pandemic and it can turn in an instant however we are living a pretty great life regardless.

On Sunday morning I was at the grocery shops at 9.00 am to do a big food shop since the holidays as I had nothing in the fridge and with the panic buying on Friday in Brisbane I decided to wait until Sunday morning and make do with the little I had at home.  I made Tahini Granola, Jam Drops, Yoghurt, Beef Stroganoff and Lentil Bolognese.  Now I've got a few things in the freezer as I had let everything run down before Christmas.

With January always comes thoughts about how to reduce expenses and whist my food budget is reasonable and smaller than it was a few years ago I want to see if I can shave some more $$ off my weekly spend and put the extra money into my emergency fund.  Even if it's $25 a week that would be $100 extra a month into the emergency fund.

You know I am a huge fan of Tracey & Jo, the sisters from Tasmania who are behind the Additive Free Lifestyle  which is all about cooking from scratch and removing unnecessary additives and preservatives in our food.  The girls have launched a Lunch Box edition cookbook which is fantastic.  It's a pre-launch which means you purchase it now and it will be released in March however with the pre-release you get the E-book version sent to you so you can start cooking now.  I can say this book is equally as good as their first book.  When you think lunches most Mum's think "school lunches" however I can say these recipes are fantastic for at home lunches, work lunches or school lunches.  I can highly recommend this book, their website and their story and mission.  Anyone that has ever worked away from home knows how much money can be wasted on morning tea and lunch if you aren't organized.  Lunches can sometimes get boring at the best of times having the same sandwich however you will be inspired by the lunches, snacks and dips etc. in this book.