ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY…GIVE ME A BREAK!

Dylan Alcott...Australian of the Year...2022

Special Ks...Aus Open Men's Double Final

                                    

 

I’m exhausted; bushed; worn out; knackered; tuckered; spent; weary; drained.  I dare not say “dog-tired” in fear of raising the ire and fur of my two furry mates. 

The cause all began on Boxing Day, and then continued through to the end of January. A few months of Sundays will be needed for me to recover.  The highs of winning and the lows of losing are exhausting for an old broad like me.  The ever-changing emotions allowed me little time to breathe. Becoming so engrossed in the action I often held my breath, forgetting to exhale.  Doing so can be very dangerous for one’s health.  Believe me when I tell you, a purple complexion isn’t a good look.

Of course, I’m referring to the cricket aka The Ashes, and the Australian Open.  

I fell in love with our Aussie cricketers…what a great bunch of blokes.  Each and every one did himself, the team, and our country proud.   Captain Pat Cummins, to name only one member of the Aussie cricket team, did a terrific job in his roles as captain and player. 

On the subject of making one’s self and country proud, there is no better example than 2022 Australian of the Year, Dylan Alcott. Dylan is a worthy recipient of the award, more worthy than some past recipients. Dylan is an intelligent, determined, intrepid, incredible human being.  The wheelchair tennis champ is a lovable larrikin.

Worthy of high praise, too, are his parents, who, unfalteringly resolute, guided their son to be the man he is today. They taught Dylan not to allow his disability hinder his Life’s journey. Lessons he’s obviously heeded.  I don’t care what anyone says or thinks about my use of the words, in my mind, Dylan Alcott is both a hero and a legend; a champion through and through, not only for his sporting achievements, but also for his work within his charitable organization, The Dylan Alcott Foundation.  His Foundation helps young Aussie with disabilities gain confidence, attain and fulfil their potential, achieve their dreams.  In Dylan, they have a wonderful role model. 

 https://dylanalcottfoundation.com.au/

Dylan deserves to be Australian of the Year; an award he respects and will honour long after 2022 is in the rear vision mirror. No matter what Dylan’s future has in store, there is no doubt he will make a lasting impression from whatever he does.

Humans like Dylan make me want to live forever so I can witness the growth of the youngsters they inspire. The younger generations within whom Dylan instills the desire to follow his lead…the desire to be…to be whatever they choose to be…will reap the benefits of achieving goals they once thought impossible to achieve.  I would love to follow the results of their determination to succeed in whatever field they choose.  Dylan Alcott makes this muddled-up world in which we dwell a far better place.  Thank you, Dylan Alcott.

And then there’s World No. 1 Ash, she’s true blue.  Fair dinkum, she is! Let’s shout it out from the rooftops. Ash Barty, a proud Aussie and Queenslander from just down the road, makes the game of tennis appear effortless, and if you’re as terrible a tennis player as I was, you know that’s not so. 

As an aside or two…I did compete in a Round Robin on Noosa’s Ken Rosewall courts…once only.. I lost. Also, in the early 70s I knew Wendy Turnbull.  Before she joined the professional circuit Wendy was a teller in the Bank of New South Wales, Fortitude Valley. Here’s another piece of useless trivia…when I was a kid, Pat Rafter’s mother, Jocelyn and her brother, Lloyd, lived up behind us in Gympie.

Each time the Special Ks stepped onto the court Nick and Thanassi made this year’s Australian Open fun and exciting. No other entertainment is needed when Nick Kyrgios appears.  He upsets some, but not me.  I believe there’s not a bad bone in his body. He has a heart of gold. Ebden and Purcell lost the match, but they’re not losers. To have an all-Aussie men’s doubles final, as well as an Aussie finalist/winner in the Women’s final was fantastic.

Last, but by no means least…there is my man Rafa. I almost had a nervous breakdown watching Rafael Nadal’s match against manic Medvedev.  I’m getting too old for such pressure.

I’m still in recuperation mode.   Boy! Did I let out a loud sigh of relief at the end of Rafael Nadal’s exceptional win!  I've been a huge fan of Rafael Nadal since the first time I saw him play way back when!  Rafa smiles, and my heart melts....

 I finally managed to drift off to sleep in the early hours of Monday 31^st January a happy camper, only to wake-up to watch the three episodes of "Voice - Generations", which I found to be so heartwarming and inspirations.  What a wonderful concept! 

 I’ve just woken up to write this post.  Bye! Bye!  Now I’m off to catch some more shut-eye!

 

Special K Bars: Melt together 1c light corn syrup and 1c sugar. Turn off heat; add 1c Peanut Paste or Peanut Butter if the latter is what you call it. (It’s always been “Peanut Paste” to me…and shall remain so). Stir in 7c Special K cornflakes or Rice Krispies; plonk into lightly greased 9x13-in pan; press evenly and lightly with buttered fingers.  Melt together 1c choc chips 1c butterscotch chips and 1/2c butter. Spread over mixture; allow to cool before slicing into individual bars.

Special K Muffins: Heat oven 200C. Line a muffin tin with baking cups. Combine 2c crushed Special K, 1/2c raisins or cranberries and 1tsp vanilla; mix in 1-1/3^rd cup of milk. Let mixture stand until the cereal is softened, about 5mins. Beat in 1 large egg and 1/4c vegetable oil with a fork. Add 3/8^th cup plain flour, 3/8^th cup ground oats, 1/2c brown sugar, 1tbs baking powder and 1/4tsp salt; stir until mixture is just moistened. Divide batter evenly between the muffin tins. Bake for 20 to 2 mins or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Immediately remove the muffins to a rack to cool. Serve warm; store leftovers in an airtight container.

Honey Cornflake Slice: Preheat oven 180C.  Combine 1-1/2c cornflakes, 1-1/3^rd cup rolled oats, 1-1/3^rd cups desiccated coconut and 1/2tsp cinnamon. Melt together 125g butter and 1/2c honey; then pour this over the dry ingredients; mix well to combine.  Press into lined lamington tin; bake 15-20mins.  Remove from oven; cool completely.  Cut through middle and then into 20 bars.