Text 23791, 130 rader
Skriven 2009-05-04 13:07:26 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
     Kommentar till en text av Glen Jamieson
Ärende: CHAIN COFFEE 90502
==========================
Hi Glen!

>> The first rain for months has just fallen, so the rainwater tank is
>> full to overflowing.  Hurrah!
>> That must be a welcome relief :)

> The dry dust where my lawns used to be has now developed a green tinge
> as all the grass seeds are bursting into life.  I have hopes that the

Yes, likewise, our dead trees have finally sprung to life after our winter <g>

> lawns will grow back during the winter if the rain continues.  Water
> rationing continues, with only 3 hours of hose watering a week
> allowed, which is hardly worth doing during the dry summer.  My citrus
> trees survive on water drained out of the washing machine.

That is really neat.. we reclaim some of the water from the dehumidfier in the
basement but used it more when the washer/dryer were down there. Now I have a
newer one upstairs that uses a lot less water and washes/dries in one machine
 - it's kind of outrageous (g) and takes forever to do a load of clothes
haha.. but it's nice to throw a load of clothes in and forget it.. I guess it's
not really so long.  3 hours for a load of jeans (I mean like 6 pairs of our
jeans) (g).. so that's not so bad :)


>> Yes, he's got to get that going and get the bathroom finished in the
>> apartment- it's part of our downstairs. Mom's coming at the end of May
>> and that will be her bathroom, so we want it to work well for her. It
>> should be nice :)

> It is good for parents to be welcomed like that.  When I was in Darwin
> a couple of months ago, my daughter there and her family were
> preparing to move into another house, and I was told which would be my
> room, for visiting or permanent residence.  Similarly in Perth a
> couple of weeks ago when visiting my daughter there.  I also have a
> room and a standing invitation to stay for as long as I like with my
> New Zealand daughter and my Houston niece.  They all appreciate having
> a family house- and baby-sitter available, as I do having somewhere to
> stay when the weather gets too cold here.  As all these daughters
> work, they welcome it when I stay and cook some of the meals.

That is very neat :)  Nice have a big family :)  My other sisters unfortunately
don't have the space that we do for Mom, outside of the one where she's moving
from in Florida.. One sister in California only has a two bedroom house, and
one other in Florida only has another small two bedroom house as well, and one
here in NY is about the same.. but that's ok.. Mom can stay here as long as she
likes, and as long as she can take the weather here (grin). Hopefully we'll
have a mild winter :)

> I am
> sure your mother will be very happy staying with you, doing some of
> the cooking, and giving Ron a bit more variety in his meals.


I think she would have a while ago, it's true - at this point she's probably a
happy to just relax and enjoy letting me take care of it, and I don't mind at
all (grin).. if she's up to it, that will be fine as well :)

>> I have been told that the best African coffee comes from Uganda.
>> Could be.. but Kona is soooo good, it's the best I've ever had..

> It has the reputation of being the best - and the most expensive.

Yes, it is the most expensive that I've seen ..

>>> Yes, that sounds like this shop.
>> Hmmm.  That could be fun to work through its stock.
>> If you went there with plenty of $$, yes indeed (g).. they do have
>> sales quite often which is great as well.. so we are on their mailing
>> list which helps :)

> There are a few ethnic shops here that I like exploring and trying
> unfamiliar brands and kinds of food.  It will take a long time to try
> all their coffees, but I am in no hurry to finish.  :)

>>> justifiably critical of the local coffee, made from "coffee essence".
>>> Never heard of that :)
>> You are lucky!  It was usually combined with chicory, and quite nasty,
>> but at that time most Australians didn't know any better.
>> Yuck, I do know how nasty chicory can be :(  A number of American
>> manufacturers added it to their coffee products .. which is why a lot
>> of americans started reading coffee labels and no doubt why they
>> started grinding their own coffee

> I have tried a few flavoured coffees - vanilla, hazelnut, etc - but I
> much prefer a good, straight coffee, by itself or with milk.

I am the same way :) :)  Keep the nuts to the candy bars :) :)

>> The quality and variety of all kinds of Australian food and drink has
>> improved immensely post-WW2 as result of migration from Europe and
>> Asia, and the experiences of Australians travelling overseas,
>> discovering what is to offer around the world.
>> True.. but if all of those nature shows I've seen on TV are to be
>> believed, if I were to come to Australia, I will be immediately bitten
>> and killed dead by any one of several monsterous spiders or critters :)

> Admittedly we do have the world's greatest collection of poisonous
> snakes, and the world's most deadly animal in the box jellyfish, which
> can kill in seconds, and an increasing number of people being eaten by
> crocodiles, but it is possible to avoid these dangers most of the
> time. :)  I am living proof of that!  Even the families of red-backed
> spiders in the garage don't worry me too much.   OTOH, if TV is to be
> believed, every time I visited USA I would be mugged, shot, blown up,
> poisoned, robbed, or infected with all sorts of horrible diseases.

hahahahahhahahahahaha :)  So true :)

> So far I have been to USA 3 or 4 times, without once having any of
> those things happen to me.

I guess I would be safe then afterall, wouldn't I :) :)

>>> Title: GREEK COFFEE
>> That's what I would think.. The coffee I had in Woodstock was thick
>> and dark, served in a small cup .. it was really good.. hard to
>> remember much about it now though, will have to stop in there again :)

> Did you add sugar to it?  Normally I don't, but that very strong,
> black, bitter coffee needs it, and it then becomes a quite different
> drink from "quaffing" coffee.  At the end of a meal, perhaps with a
> shot of fiery Greek raki or Italian grappa, it has a definite place.

I'm trying to remember.. I think I did.. but I am not sure now... :)

Take care,
Janis

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