Monday, August 25, 2014

WHEN YOUR NUMBER COMES UP….



http://alvey.com.au/fishing-information/beach-and-surf-fishing/
Alvey Reels, in my opinion, are the best reels for surf fishing.
You've Gotta Have Sole!
Map of Peregian Beach/Coolum Beach and Yaroomba


As far as my Lotto numbers are concerned one number once in a while bounces out of the barrel; most times, however, none escape. I think they take one look at me and leap back into the barrel!

On rare instances a couple of my numbers exuberantly pop up like toast out of a toaster, but all my numbers never come up in the one draw; not yet, anyway. I live in hope!  I might be the one who is toast!

Years ago I erroneously registered my numbers. You know…the usual…birthdays, street addresses, that sort of thing. It wasn’t a well-considered decision for anyone as superstitious as I am. In truth, I’m not overly superstitious, but I am when it comes to looking at the winning numbers when I’ve not placed an entry.  On such occasions I never check the winning numbers. What would be the point? It’d be my luck that would be the time all my numbers spun out of control, and spewed forth from the Lotto barrel; then I’d be the one spinning out of control! The agony would be too much to bear. Being the quavering coward I am, I’d rather not know. 

My sparse winning history is…

In 1979 I won $300 plus change. I spent my winnings on a new, you-beaut 12-foot surf rod for myself, along with an equally-new, you-beaut shiny side cast Alvey reel (both of which I no longer have). When in my possession the rod and reel served me well. They helped me catch a lot of fish…a lot!  On the scale of things, I mostly caught bream with a quite a few tailor, flathead, whiting and dart thrown into the esky for good measure; and then, on one bright early morn, to my surprise I landed a flounder when surf fishing at Yaroomba.

Yaroomba is about 3kms (1.8 miles) south of Coolum Beach.  After we left Brisbane to live and work on the coast back in early 1979, my husband and I lived at Coolum for the first six or so months until we bought our house at Sunshine Beach. Sunshine Beach is about 15kms (nine miles) further north of Coolum; close to Noosa Heads.

On the particular morning I refer to, my husband (now ex) and I had been surf fishing from around 4 am.  We were packing up, ready to head back home for hot showers and a hearty breakfast when I cast out my line for one last try while Randall, my husband gathered together our gear. I started to reel my line in, when, right at the water’s edge where the water was shallow, I felt something on the end of my line. At first I thought my hook and sinker were stuck in the sand as the waves were rushing back out to sea...but lo and behold….I’d picked up a nice-sized flounder, probably around 30cm, just as my rigged line was about to hit the shore. 

We enjoyed fresh flounder cooked gently in butter and lemon juice for breakfast that morning.  It was the first and only flounder I’ve ever caught.

The last time I won a semi-reasonable amount in Lotto was in 1985. Once again, my windfall was three hundred dollars plus change; and then, a couple of weeks later I won a similar amount.  

Back then $300.00 was nothing to scoff at; neither was it a bag of peanuts; it still isn’t.  A pattern formed for a brief moment in time. It became apparent I had something going for me with the number three, but it didn’t last. It fizzled out like a candle in the wind, and never reignited. My luck is no match for Fate. Since then I’ve only won the change; here and there; once in a while. 

In 1967 I won a chicken in a raffle; the first and only time I’ve ever done so. Chicken trays are safe when I’m around.  As for meat trays - I’ve never won a meat tray, either. And, of course, to keep my clean record, I’ve never won a seafood tray from a Lions Club or a Rotary Club raffle; or from any other raffle run by an organisation, for that matter. I wouldn’t want to be starving, would I? With my winning history, or lack thereof, I should be skeletal. Thank goodness I’m an adept hand at food shopping. 

I may have mentioned somewhere along the line that I won a mountain bike in 1994 when I was living and working in Townsville; but as there is only one hill in Townsville, Castle Hill, and the fact that I wasn’t, and still am not into bike riding I gave the bike to a friend, a local 4TO radio announcer, and asked him to give it away to a worthy child listener by whatever method he saw fit, leaving my name out of the play. 

It was a Coca-Cola competition. I bought a ticket when fueling my car at the service station down the road a bit from the restaurant in which I was cooking at the time.

From memory that’s about it as far as my winning streaks are concerned.  I can’t even win an argument these days. Things are bad.

Taking all of the above into account, I must be due for a big win soon.  Perhaps, it’d be easier to buy a bag of raw peanuts.  Some I’ll roast; others I’ll boil; and the rest I’ll eat raw. While watching the Lotto draw - one I’ve entered, of course, I can throw peanuts at the TV screen when my numbers don’t come up.

Eggplant-Peanut Salad: Peel 2 eggplants, about 700g each; cut in ½ to 1-inch cubes. Put in colander; salt liberally; set aside 30mins. Rinse, drain and dry cubes.  Heat 1/2tbs oil in large pan; sauté 2 onions, cut in ½-inch cubes, 1-2mins; add 2 chopped garlic cloves; cook 1min; remove from pan; add eggplant in one layer; add more oil if needed; cook 5-7mins. Remove while eggplant still holds shape, soft but not mushy. Whisk together 1/2c red wine vinegar and 1tbs Dijon mustard; slowly drizzle in 3/4c olive oil while whisking; continue until emulsified; stir in the still warm vegetables; cool; cover and chill. About 30mins before serving add 1/2c raisins (plumped in water 10-15mins, then drained), 1/2c halved or chopped peanuts, chopped fresh thyme, and/or basil or marjoram to taste.  

Nut-Crusted Salmon: Place rack on baking sheet; put salmon fillets on top of rack; drizzle with a little oil; gently rub it in; season lightly; set aside. Process 1/3c unsalted peanuts, 1/4c cashews, 2tbs breadcrumbs, 1-1/2tsp Dijon mustard, juice of ½ lemon and some fresh parsley; pulse a few times until coarse. With processor running, drizzle in about 2tbs olive oil. The mixture should remain somewhat coarse. Press mixture onto top of salmon fillets; press down; cook in preheated 204C oven, 20mins, or until tops are golden.  

Kale-Cabbage Peanut Salad: Combine thinly-sliced bunch of kale with 1c chopped red cabbage, 1 carrot, julienned, 2 thinly-sliced shallots, and ½c roasted or raw peanuts. Dressing; combine 2tbs rice or cider vinegar, 1tbs lime juice, 1tbs soy sauce, 1 minced garlic clove, 1tsp honey and pinch of chilli flakes. Slowly drizzle in 1/4c sesame oil while whisking; add to salad; mix well. Garnish with chopped peanuts. 

33 comments:

  1. Snap.
    I am not a winner. Probably largely because I rarely enter anything.
    The last thing I can remember winning was a meat tray (and me a vegetarian) which I won with my entry ticket to a play.
    My mother won an E-type Jag once. A pedal car E-type. She donated it to the local children's home, and I hope it got driven for years and years.

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  2. Hey EC....my ex won a Nissan four-wheel drive...just after we separated! Hahahahaha! Story of my life! ;)

    I enter Saturday's Lotto, and sometimes I put OzLotto - only when the pot is high, but otherwise not.

    I always believe you've got to be in it to win...as I said...I keep living in hope! Thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. Hi Lee,

    I've won a few books (author contests) and a pair of silver earrings, but that's about it. My husband once won a portable TV. That was back in the boob tube days.

    Maybe you'll win something soon?

    Janice~

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  4. Hey there Janice...who knows what's are the corner. I sure wouldn't say know to a worthwhile win in the Lotto. Take the money and run, I say!

    Thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. I'm not a lottery ticket buyer. I never win anything in raffles etc and then I think what I could have done with the money instead. But, oh my, wouldn't it be wonderful to win a great big hunk of money? I would be able to play "Miss Bountiful" and spread it around the family a bit. That would be fun!

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  6. It sure would be lots of fun, Helsie. There's a lot one could do with the money if a huge amount was won, that's for sure. :)

    And I reckon there would be a few family members that we never see or knew of who appear suddenly out of the woodwork!

    Thanks for popping in. :)

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  7. I'm not a winner either, but I keep hoping, especially for a big win, there are twenty people in my immediate life who would all benefit.
    I've always promised the kids if I ever won one of those big mega draws or jackpots, I would split the winnings five ways. That's me and four kids and they of course would help their spouses and children, while I would give some of my share to my brother and sister. Then there's the ex-husbands, yes, I would help them too.
    In spite of having such good intentions, the gods or heavens or whoever is responsible, hasn't yet seen fit to make my dreams come true :(

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  8. Apart from shrapnel I'd never won anything in Lotto until 1997 when the syndicate I'd set up at work won just under $500,000! Not much work was done that day but a lot champagne (Moet) was consumed in celebration. Nowadays I buy crossword scratchies...the odds are a little better, probably not by much though!

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  9. I buy a lottery ticket if I find money on the street - but my lack of success seems to suggest that the magic has already been used up in the finding!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  10. Got $2 on a lottery ticket once. I won $10 on a $2 bet on Spend-A-Buck at the Kentucky Derby. Won a portable TV at a drawing once and got a clock radio at another drawing. Never win at the casino. That's my gambling tale:)

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  11. I might enter if it is a charity such as the St Jude House giveaway and I have bought raffle tickets at the Ducks Unlimited Banquets, I have entered contest to wins cool cars but alas NO house won, Some small hunting items won, and no fast cool car in the driveway. We have a lottery here in TN which is suppose to support schools but I often wonder how much makes it to the schools. I guess I just do not like the odds. Then again "Can't win if you do not enter." Peace

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  12. When the Lottery first came to California, I played once in a while, but stopped when I realized the odds were Soooo not in my favor...I rarely win anything---I think the last time I won something was 1951! So... it sounds to me like you have a pretty good record of past wins...Here's hoping more "wins" will be in your future.....
    All the food looks and sounds delicious!

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  13. Hi River...I'd give some to my two exes, as well. I'm still on good terms with them both. They would do similar for me. I have no children but I do have a couple of nephews and nieces I'd help out and my close good friends, too, of course.

    I don't understand it when people say "Oh! It's too much money for one person!" Referring to the huge amounts like the $70m last week. I don't don't agree...there is so much good that could be done with the money. I'd set up a special fund for charities, needy, sick children and for helping out disadvantaged folk who needed a bit of a hand to get themselves back on track.

    All pipe dreams, I know...but nice dreams.

    Thanks for coming by...hugs to Angel. :)

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  14. Hey there Robyn...I can well imagine the party you had after your win. I would've done the same! :)

    Once in a while I'll buy a scratch-It...I did win $12.00 in one a few weeks ago - and I hadn't realised I had until I handed it back to the girl to throw it into the bin!

    Thanks for popping in. :)

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  15. Hi Stewart, I spotted a five cent piece on the floor of the supermarket at the checkout last week. I pointed it out to a young lass waiting in line behind me...for her to pick it up because if I got down there, I'd probably still be trying to get back up! She picked it up reluctantly and went to hand it to me, but I told her to keep it...again, reluctantly she did. You just can't make some people happy! :)

    Nice to see you. :)

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  16. Hey GA...you seem to do okay...that's not a bad record. I don't go to the casinos. The last time was about 7 years ago and that was just for lunch with a couple of friends...we didn't go into the gambling "hall". Actually, I've only ever been to casinos four times and each time I never had a gamble...just went for a look and a wander around.

    Thanks for coming by. :)

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  17. Hi Lady Di...yeah...I know. The odds are against us...but they're even more against us if we don't enter! lol I don't spend much on Lotto but I do have my little weekly and sometimes bi-weekly flutter. Who knows?

    Thanks for coming by. :)

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  18. Hey Naomi. Good to see you. You're worse at winning than I am, and I didn't think that was possible! lol

    I hope you're feeling a lot stronger. Don't push yourself too much...take good care...and thanks for coming by. :)

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  19. I "won" package after package of meat at a raffle at work years ago...and didn't buy any tickets. I'm a vegetarian, and my coworkers had a very good joke!

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  20. Hi RK...I'm sure you paid them back. ;)


    Thanks for coming by. :)

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  21. That's why I stick with low cash gambling in Las Vegas. You win some, you lose some. Have a much better chance of winning $100 instead of $1,000,000 in some lottery.

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  22. Hi Dexter...Other than my little flutters with the Lotto once, sometimes twice a week,I don't gamble. I never go to casinos. With the lotto I pick up a few dollars here and there; maybe one day I'll win something worthwhile...most likely not...it's all a bit of fun and a game of chance.

    I'm living on the edge!!! Thanks for coming by. :)

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  23. Back when our Heavenly Father first started making Himself more acutely real unto me in 1993, I became convinced that He was giving me the winning numbers to a super-lottery payout, which was regularly several million dollars in total. After it being proven week after week that the numbers inside of my head were not the winning ones, I became much more sensitive to the fact the devil and his horde of rogue angels are also allowed and enabled to mess with our heads. Sigh.

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  24. Well, Jerry, I'm not religious like you are. I'll just have to hope, perchance, that one day my numbers will spew out of the barrel. I don't take it too seriously. It's just a bit of fun.

    I doubt very much I'll ever win anything worthwhile, with or without anyone's assistance...unless of course, I can get someone to rig the barrel! That might work! ;)

    Thanks for coming by. :)

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  25. You won twice!
    That's great, but most win nothing.

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  26. I'm greedy, though, Mr. Ad-Man...I wouldn't mind winning at least $1million! Oh! Well....

    Thanks for coming by...I hope you're feeling better. :)

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  27. I used to work at Golden Casket in Brisbane and I very rarely played. The best odds of winning is the old Golden Casket Art Union but even they are not what they used to be.

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  28. I like to buy those lottery scratch off the numbers tickets, because they are fun to scratch off. I usually win another ticket or a dollar or two. Once - someone put a ticket into a Christmas card for me and I won $100! :)

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  29. Hi Carol and Lynn...it's just a bit of fun...I don't spend much on the Lotto, and as silly as it is, we always seem to get a thrill out of our wins. Imagine what we'd be like if we won the big one! lol

    Thanks coming by. :)

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  30. I am really not a winner at lotteries or things - once I won about $90 and that was the highest. I need to win the lottery though.

    I like the photos of all the gowns.

    I liked the green looking kiss of candy.

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  31. Well, we never know...it might happen! You've got to be in it, to win it, Sandie.

    Thanks for popping in. :)

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  32. I can't resist competitions, as long as they're easy ones. What's to lose? Well, I suppose a pound here and there, if you enter the lotto. As yet I am just about breaking even between what I've won and the tickets I've bought. Not very impressive really, I suppose! :)

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  33. Yeah...but it's a bit of fun, Jenny. And we sure need a bit of fun in our lives, moreso these days.

    Thanks for coming by. :)

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