Monday, January 18, 2016

IT WAS ALL GREEK TO ME - EVEN WHEN I WAS UP A CREEK WITH OR WITHOUT A PADDLE!



 
Macushla Beach, Hinchinbrook Island

One of the many creeks running off from Missionary Bay, Hinchinbrook Island.

Creeks running inland from Missionary Bay

Cardwell by the sea...photo taken by ex-staff member who remains a friend to this day. He took this about 2 weeks ago. The motel I managed was up beyond the jetty which you can see in the distance.  It was from that jetty the "Reef Venture" went to and from the resort at Cape Richards, dropping off provisions and guests. Click on the picture to enlarge.

 
Inspector Morse and Lewis

Like most folk there have been times I’ve felt like I was up a creek without a paddle. Having large hands (for a woman) is an advantage when floundering in troubled waters. Mine aren’t the most genteel, ladylike hands in the world, but if ever needed they would've shone brightly as surrogate oars.

However, other sticky situations can create problems of their own. There’s more area to cover if you’ve large hands; more area of stickiness. I gave myself a fright the other day. I was super-gluing the handle on a coffee cup.  For a moment I panicked.  I thought I’d be spending the rest of my life walking around with a cup stuck to my hand!  I considered sitting at the front entrance to our local supermarket, cup stuck to my hand, humming a tune while tap dancing to the beat. I’d not have been able to strum an instrument because of the stuck cup, but it could’ve been an enterprising way to make some extra money.  The downside is, my humming is as bad as my singing. As for my tap dancing – I wouldn’t force it upon anyone! 

By the way, the handle on said cup has since broken off once more!  I knocked a jug, and the domino principle immediately toppled into gear.

Drat! I’ve done it again! I’ve managed to go off paddling up a different creek from the original thought that prompted this narrative. What’s new?
Yesterday during a chat with a friend who once worked with me at the resort on Hinchinbrook Island, as always, our conversation turned to happy reminiscences about our magical time on the island.  He reminded me of an exhibition I’d made of myself one crazy afternoon when I tried to paddle a canoe. “Tried” being the operative (unco-operative) word!

A guest (the one I referred to in a previous post re our attempted dining at the Hotel Windsor prior to his paddling off to Oxford to meet up with Inspector Morse) asked me to join him on canoe ride. We were both virgins in the art of canoeing.  To my dismay, I became aware of his lack of experience when we were less than halfway en route!

Sticking reasonably close to shore we paddled westward in the direction of Macushla Beach, and further on to Missionary Bay; in the direction of the mainland.
With every stroke of the oars the more drenched we both became. Fearing death by drowning I morphed into Fletcher Christian and mutinied. I took a stance while remaining seated, demanding we row back to the jetty. 

There upon the jetty waited Johnno, my barman. On his face was a strange look on that said: “Are you two crazy or something?”  I readily agreed with his thoughts.  The sun was descending over Cardwell in the west, on the mainland.  I had to get cracking.  The resort guests would soon be turning up at the bar eager for a drink or three to start off their evening.

Once my feet returned to dry land and I’d had time to reflect I realised I’d enjoyed my spontaneous moments of hilarious, hair-raising nonsense.  I then raced quickly to my house to shower and get ready for the night’s entertainment in the restaurant.  The show must go on; and on it did go!
A few years later I again sat in a canoe out the front of a motel I managed. (Well, the motel on the beachfront; not the one I managed that faced the main highway.  That could've proved fatal if I'd sat in a canoe on the highway)!

The property, owned by a Greek family, was a large expanse of land at Cardwell. I managed the motel on the highway end of the property; a property that ran through from the highway through to another motel (and a restaurant) situated on the beachfront at the other end of the block of land. In between the two motels were holiday villas, on-site caravans and caravan sites.

My second stint in a canoe was stationary. The canoe was securely tied to a palm tree on the foreshore. Other than gentle rocking, the canoe was going nowhere, and neither was I. No paddles or oars were required; nor were my hands needed as substitutes.

Sitting there pondering the meaning of life and Hinchinbrook Island in the distance, I had the awesome pleasure of watching dugongs nonchalantly grazing on the seagrass as they cruised by completely oblivious to my presence. 

At times, when the motel restaurant’s chef was unavailable for whatever reason I cooked in his stead. Dugongs were not on the menu! 

I learned a few handy Greek recipes from the owner of the establishment.  The matriarch, a few years older than me, was quite a humourless woman, with no sense of the ridiculous. I think I was given her portion, doubling my quota.

She treated life far too seriously, but she was willing to share her ethnic food knowledge with me; and I was willing to watch, listen and learn.
Some of it might’ve been double Dutch, but it all ended up being Greek to me.

Zorba’s Salad: Whisk together 2tbs red wine vinegar, 1tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2c x-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, 1/2tsp oregano, 1/4tsp marjoram, 1 crushed clove garlic and 1tsp lemon juice. Add Cos lettuce, spinach, chopped red onion, bite-sized pieces of red apple, dried cranberries, sliced/diced cucumber, feta pieces and crispy walnuts to salad bowl; toss gently with dressing.

Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki Sauce: Cut 500g skinless chicken into 1-inch cubes. Whisk 3tbs lemon juice, 3tbs olive oil, 2tsp crushed garlic, 1/2tsp salt. 1/4tsp pepper, 1tsp dried oregano; add chicken; cover; chill and marinate 1hr. Alternately thread chicken and ¾-inch pieces of zucchini on skewers; place on hot grill; cook 9-10mins, until chicken is cooked; serve with Tzatziki Sauce: Slice 1 unpeeled English cucumber lengthwise; scrape out seeds; grate cucumber into bowl; press out as much liquid as possible; add 1-1/2c Greek yoghurt, 1/2c sour cream, 1 or 2tsp crushed garlic, 1-1/2tbs lemon juice, 1tbs white wine vinegar, 1tbs fresh dill, minced; season. 

Couscous Dolmades with Lemon Yoghurt Sauce: In large heatproof bowl, combine ½ cup whole wheat couscous and 1/3rd cup currants. Pour in 1/2 cup boiling water; cover and let stand until absorbed, about 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Let cool. Meanwhile, rinse 20 drained grape leaves; remove tough stems.Add 170g minced lean beef or lamb, 1/4c toasted  pine nuts, 1/4c chopped fresh dill or mint, 2tsp grated lemon rind, salt and pepper to taste, to couscous; mix with fork to combine. Roll by 2 tbls quantities into cigar shapes, pressing lightly to hold together. Place in centre of grape leaf; fold in sides of leaf and roll up tightly. Place snugly in single layer, seam side down, in 11- x 7-inch glass baking dish. Pour in 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock; cover and bake in 180C/350F oven until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 1 hour. Serve hot or cold with Lemon Yoghurt Sauce for dipping. (Make-ahead: Let cool for 30 minutes; cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)  Lemon Yoghurt Sauce: Combine 1/3c Greek natural yoghurt, 3tbs sour cream (or mayonnaise if you like mayo), 2tbs lemon juice and pinch of salt.

Greek Custard Pie (Galaktoboureko): Preheat oven, 190C. In saucepan, stir 5c whole milk, 1c fine semolina, 1/2c sugar, 1tbs unsalted butter and 1tsp vanilla over med-heat; stir gently and constantly until thick; cool 5-10mins. Beat 3 eggs with 1/4c sugar; stir into mixture; add zest of 1 orange. Brush base of 10x13-inch lasagne dish with melted butter; layer with 6 phyllo sheets, liberally brush each layer with melted butter; lightly press sheets into sides and corners; let edges hang over the top. Pour slightly cooled custard over sheets; spread to sides; layer 6 phyllo sheets on top as you did with the base, melted butter etc. Brush overlaps; roll edges down to create a rim. Brush liberally with butter. At this stage, if you like, you can lay thin slices of orange over the top.  Bake, 30-45mins until golden; cool 15mins. Upon removing the pie from the oven and while it’s still hot, pour syrup over entire pie (Syrup - 1-1/2c sugar, 1c water, 1/4c orange juice and 1/2tsp vanilla boiled for 5mins). Let pie sit for 1hr or so before serving.  

(I have no idea why the font is in different sizing...oh, well....)

38 comments:

  1. Great Photographs Lee - especially Macushla Beach.
    Now back to the tennis.
    "Dasha" did well, Alja better get that arm fixed and pronto as it will only get worse and harder to fix. She can claim a PROTECTED ranking anyhow and by staying put here her residency status will improve.
    Cheers
    Colin

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    1. It pleases me that I captured your attention if only for a minute, Colin. I do wonder if you read the content of my post, though!

      Dasha did do well. The tennis has been going all day here; and the status quo shall remain through to the last ball over the net (or into the net) on the evening of 31st January...as you are fully aware...and as you are doing the same thing!

      Thanks for popping in between changing of ends! :)

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    2. Lee - you wondered correctly - ha ha.
      Young Omar Jasika (18yrs) had an excellent win.
      Now he is ONE to watch.
      I shall read in full tomorrow morning - the double Dutch and all Greek to thee - ha ha.
      Cheers
      Colin

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    3. Yep...and he seems like a nice young fellow, too...I hope he remains so!

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  2. I have big hands and feet. And am a klutz.
    I am considering canoeing again though.
    Have fun watching the tennis

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    1. My feet aren't the smallest or daintiest, either, EC. But then if they were small, I'd probably topple over. When I was younger, before I started to shrink, not from showering and bathing, but from the passing of the years, I used to be 5ft 9...so having small feet would've been pretty pointless - and dangerous! lol

      Yep...I enjoy watching the tennis, as you already know...it's a fine game.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. The font could be in different sizing if you cut and pasted that part of the post. When I do that, I always check the font and if it is different I highlight the cut and pasted bit, then change the font size and sometimes the font too, to match the rest of my post.
    I don't have ladylike hands either, they're small, with stubby fingers, dry skin that cracks around the nails and broken nails too. But they do what they have to and that's good enough for me.
    Sad that your Greek cooking teacher had no sense of the ridiculous, but at least you learned a few recipes.

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    1. Hey there, River.

      No...I cut and pasted the whole article in the one go as I always do. Sometimes it does silly things for reasons known only to its own self! Who am I, really, to question the why for and why not of blogging? At least the larger font makes for easy reading, I guess.

      My hands aren't dry and my nails are in good condition. I don't ever use nail polish, though. I've never liked wearing it - just a personal thing. And I don't use hand creams...never think to do so.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  4. Memories. Good to read them.
    We stayed at Cardwell for about a week in 2008. Have been on the jetty many times.
    Enjoy the tennis :). as I know you will..I'm watching.

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    1. Hi Margaret...I'm glad you're enjoying my rambling reminiscing.

      I am enjoying the tennis...lapping it up through to the very end. I'm in good company it would appear! We'll be exhausted by month's end! :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. Is being up a creek without a paddle the same as running amok?

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    1. "Up the creek without a paddle" means to be in a difficult position or an extremely difficult position (with no obvious solution of getting out of it), Annie. (Another version of the saying is - "up shit creek (up shit creek without a paddle).

      Thanks for popping in. :)

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  6. The good thing is that you demanded to return to shore because that could have certainly gone badly.

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    1. Hi Arleen...no...it wouldn't have gone badly...we really were safe...just drenched to the bone! And I am/was a pretty strong swimmer. :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  7. OK - can't sleep so it is now 1.00am and I have read your canoe exploits. Canoes or rather kayaks and I don't seem to hit it off either.
    With a couple of mates in Atlanta, Ga I was taken for a hair-raising kayak trip down the rapids in a river just north of the city. For reasons best known to my former travelling mate in Europe and who I ended up 8 years later as Best Man at his wedding, the "refreshments" and a certain smoking ingredient starting with "M" were stored in our kayak. Come the first series of rapids, negotiated by flukery, the bigger second lot was disaster and tossed out both of us were. I was supposed to grab the plastic bag with the "M" stuff, but survival was more on my agenda. The alcohol refreshments and the "M" stuff were never to be seen again.
    Australia and a certain "Aussie" were not the flavour of the month on that occasion in Georgia.
    So if any American readers go kayaking on a river north of Atlanta and find beer, bourbon and other alcoholic spirits and a plastic bag with grass looking stuff in it.
    Please notify me via Lee's blog. Thank you.

    Lee - please NEVER mention the word - Stosur to me again.
    Hopeless player in her own country.
    Cheers and now another attempt at sleeping.
    Colin

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    1. Aha! I knew it! I picked it in one!!

      Never fear! I shall not mention She-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named. She frustrates me so much. That certain "She" should never even try to play in tournaments here! As for Kyrgios - I hope he has a good supply of shirts in his locker! If he plays many more matches he'll have eaten them all! He's always munching on them!

      I've never tried kayaking...but my friend who took that Cardwell photo often goes kayaking around the Tin Can Bay area and other areas up that way. Some my staff, when they had their days off from the resort, did the white water rafting (Raging Thunder( just north of Tully a couple of times...it had not long begun operation - 1984 - two years before I arrived on the island. Not my cup of tea, thanks! I never had the urge to do that; and I still don't all these years later. I'd be flat out climbing aboard a canoe or a kayak as I'm sure you would be nowadays...if I did manage to climb aboard...there I'd remain. I probably wouldn't be able to climb out again! lol

      Thanks for returning and reading what I wrote! :)

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    2. I can assure you Lee after the "roasting" I got from those very annoyed gentlemen of Atlanta, Ga,
      for my incompetence with the losing of that "M" stuff and the buffering I received from the bloody rocks, my canoeing and kayaking days came to an abrupt end.
      Anyhow after untangling ourselves from the kayak disaster, we did adjourn to a local beer garden bar and then really "drowned" our misfortunes!!!

      Re: Chewing on shirts - must be a "Greek or Malay" thing, ha ha. Bloody ridiculous - probably
      a nervous twitch???
      What with him eating his shirts and Rafa playing with his bum - makes for intriguing tennis, eh?
      Who would you watch if they were to meet in the final - the shirt eater or the bum scratcher - ha ha!
      As for "S.W.S.N.B.N" - I wish that from now on she is struck down with some virus in January to save we, Aussies, the agony of watching her and then listening to her bloody excuses.
      At least today one Aussie will advance - I suspect good ole Lleyton, but note who probably will be waiting?? (David Ferrer).
      Our men - Thompson, Ebden, Tomic, Millman and Groth have all winnable matches, and in the ladies - only Jarmila Wolfe is a good possibility to progress.
      The others are all "lucky recipient juniors and so-called comeback ones", courtesy of the wildcards, and only a miracle from "on high" will get them into Round 2.
      Yesterday - 5 Aussies played - 3 won and 2 lost.
      One shouldn't have played due to that bloody arm problem and I hope she takes notice of her medical advisors, otherwise she'll have her career cut short - viz: Alja Tomlajanovic.
      Cheers
      Colin

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    3. You are already aware, I am certain, Colin, that I am a massive Rafa fan...always have been and always will be...ever since I first saw him play many years ago when he was still a teenager. I've mentioned this to you before. Nothing anyone will say will change my mind re Nadal. I think Nadal is a wonderful young man...many others could take a few leaves from his book.

      I wish the match tonight wasn't between Hewitt and Duckworth. I like that young Duckworth...what a bloody draw. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

      Oh...and again, I'd choose to watch Rafa over anyone else....I think that about clears up any doubts about what I think of Nadal. :)

      And further more, Nadal has never during his tennis career behaved like a pretentious, mug lair; neither has Federer; not like some of the current younger players of today. At the risk of repeating myself again...I shan't mention their names again.

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  8. The current tourism slogan for Cardwell is "Memories to last a lifetime". You've got plenty of them Lee! Another good read.

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    1. Hey there, Yorkie. Thanks. I enjoyed your poem by the way...it's very good.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  9. Obviously my hopes are on Andy Murray. As for hands I have tiny hands (with long fingers) and feet for my height. In theory this, everyone tells me, should have made me an excellent pianist. Unfortunately no one had mentioned that to the bits that connected my brain to my fingers. The pictures were, as always, fascinating although when I came to Morse and a (very young) Lewis I did wonder what on earth they were doing there.

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    1. Hi Graham...firstly Morse was pictured because of the following which is part of this post above -

      "A guest (the one I referred to in a previous post re our attempted dining at the Hotel Windsor prior to his paddling off to Oxford to meet up with Inspector Morse) asked me to join him on canoe ride."

      I added the picture of Morse and Lewis in case there were some readers who were unaware of the TV series (from the wonderful character created by Colin Dexter in the books the wrote).

      As for Andy Murray...I've never been a fan of Murray. I know! I know! Shoot me now...but I cannot tell a lie! :)

      Thanks for coming by...I hope I've cleared up your confusion! :)

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    2. Sorry Lee but I should have made it more clear. I wondered because the picture of Morse was before the text. Once I'd read the text I was enlightened.We can't all be a fan of everyone but Murray is not the dour Scot he often appears to be. He's a very entertaining person in real life as well as being a hard grafter of a player.

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    3. You are forgiven, Graham! :)

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  10. Amazing pictures.

    You life is full of adventures.

    Thanks for visiting and commenting. Have a blessed week.

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    1. Hey Gail...my life these days is not filled with adventures...I live a very quiet existence.....by choice.

      But through the years of yore I did have some fun, interesting times - and I met a lot of fun, interesting people.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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    2. You have had adventures I will never know...but I can imagine. The cleaver fiction was fun!

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    3. That was hilarious! I loved it! I promise I'll be good! lol

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  11. Beautiful photos, and I love the old car! You have a lovely blog. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. :)

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    1. Thank you, Linda and welcome to my blog. Thanks for popping in. Please don't be a stranger. :)

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  12. In my late twenties, I would go canoeing quite often. First thing you learn is to walk in the center of the boat. I always thought they were introduced by Politicians as they are always down the middle and never taking a stand on either side. LOL Peace

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    1. Perhaps you're right about canoes and politicians, Lady Di! lol

      When I lived on Newry Island I used to row the small dinghy...I had to because my motor boat that I used to ferry guests and provisions to and from the island was moored out in the channel between Newry and Outer Newry Islands...but the dinghy was much more stable than the canoe. Of course, if I had to I would've mastered a canoe...if I had to!

      Thanks for coming by. Take care. :)

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  13. I love reading of your past adventures. They often stir up happy memories of my time in north Queensland (although not quite so far north). We have a kayak on our dam and I often look at it and wonder if perhaps, just perhaps I could manage to get into it. I did so love kayaking back in the day. But I've promised my children I won't go swimming my myself and wouldn't risk looking so undignified in front of an audience. I wonder if I could bribe a grandchild to help me when no-one else is around? Food for thought.

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    1. I'd probably end up side down if I tried to do so these days, Pauline! lol

      It would be advisable to do it with someone there...just in case...if you know what I mean!! You could always bribe one of your grandchildren with food...a couple of Brownies, maybe!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  14. I'm salivating over all of that food! Especially the custard pie.

    You are so hilarious - you made me laugh out loud when I read the bit about the cup being permanently glued to your hand sitting in front of the market. :)

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    1. I am a bit insane, Lynn...I've just not yet been certified...yet....I keep dodging the guys in the white jackets! :)

      That Greek custard pie is delicious. It's ages now since I've made one.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  15. I love Greek cuisine. In fact, I enjoy most Mediterranean food. Actually, I just enjoy food! Hinchinbrook certainly has a lot of lovely memories for you, Lee...with and without paddles. As long as you don't find yourself up a certain creek without a paddle!

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    1. I think I've learned through the years how to navigate that "certain" creek, Robyn...lots of practice! That doesn't mean I enjoy the trips, particularly if the canoe has a leak in it! ;)

      Good to see you...thanks for popping in. I'll bring the drinks and sandwiches for today's tennis watching! :)

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