A date with a jetty.

My place in time #17 - Somewhere I used to visit as a kid

I knew early last week that I needed a day out on my own. I told Brett that Sunday I would be going out for the day, he would have to look after the girls. I've wanted to go fishing for ages, it's a bit hard to take the girls out on the jetty. Let's just say I wouldn't get much fishing done.

I didn't leave the house until almost half past ten, dropped into Mum's and borrowed her tackle box, because Bretts' was a shambles, and headed to Southend.

I grew up fishing here, with my family. We spent many a school holiday on the beach, on the jetty.

Gran used to be a gun fisher, well known as one too. Her and my Grandpa lived here.  Grandpa has been gone for just over 25 years, Gran still lives in Southend, but hasn't been out on the jetty for years. She prefers to perch on a pokie chair these days, much easier to get to with her wheelie walker. I fear her days of driving safely are numbered, she will most likely be moving into the old folks home in town soon.

I remember one night, under the lights in the bend of the jetty, we all went fishing. We caught a heap, hundreds of fish. Mum and I stayed up in the early hours of the morning, after the others had gradually gone to bed; scaling, filleting and bagging up fish for the freezer. I'd love to go fishing under the lights again, maybe when the nights aren't so freezing cold. I'd say that's a date to keep with myself.

Sunday turned out not the day, to catch fish. I had a few bites, but in the three hours I was there, I caught nothing but seaweed. I did take some photos though. 

I was smugly pleased when I arrived home to find Brett had been forced to dry reach his way through a shitty nappy. 

I was not so happy about having to come home to catch up on a day of washing. I even had a sook, because I felt like I had wasted my time going out, caught nothing and still had to come home and hang out washing, fill the clothes horse and fold dry washing, cook tea.. yada yada. I remember telling myself to not be so stupid, to be glad I got out in the first place. It didn't matter about the things I didn't get done.

Things I know - It's been a week since I went to the doctor for help with depression. Six nights, I've had a pill before going to bed. I can only just the last couple of days feel that things are changing, slowly. Still aways to go. I have an appointment with a mental health nurse in a couple of weeks, I am actually looking forward to it. 

Do you love fishing?
Where did you spend your school holidays as a kid?
Do you fond memories about a place you visited as a kid?

Where I go to relax

My place in time #10

This is where I go to relax, to think, to revive. It's here that all my tensions are pulled from my body by the thundering sea. Where the fresh sea air cleanses my thoughts.

It's where I go when something big has happened, and I need some time for my brain to process it.

When I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with Jake, which I was told off for. I didn't tell anyone I was going and I was far too preggers to be walking sandhills alone. I shrugged it off. I think it was the week before I was mowing  the lawn, what could a walk on the beach do? This was the days before mobile phones, ones that would fit in your back pocket anyway.

I came here and walked alone when I found out I was preggers with Izzy, and just the past weekend, on Saturday. Brett took the girls out and I needed to go to my place by the sea, on my own. 

Friday I fronted at the doctors clinic. I have depression. I've known it for a while but let it slide. It wasn't getting better, wasn't going away, so I am now in the process of healing myself. I will be OK. Like the Pantene ad, it won't happen overnight, but it will happen.

These are the photos I took while I was there, I was happy taking photos, being with myself. A good thing, considering I had a blubber on the way because I forgot my jacket. Silly. I didn't need it anyway.

Creamy poached Basa

I use Basa fillet for this recipe. It's a fresh water fish, not too expensive and you'll find it in the seafood freezer section in the supermarket or in the deli at Woolworths. 

It is a thickish, white meat fish, with a mild flavour. It is really good with just a sprinkling of dry tarragon, a few small knobs of butter and baking in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes.

This is how I cook it mostly. This is how I love to eat it. So tasty.

I cut the cooked fish into four. Makes it easy to serve with a large spoon.

2 Basa fish fillets
Silverbeet, about 6 largish leaves(use kale or spinach instead)
1 small onion, sliced (or a small leek)
1/4 cup cream(I have used just water if you don't want it creamy)
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
salt and pepper

Using a small casserole dish, lay silverbeet leaves to cover the bottom of the dish. 

Scatter half the onion over the silverbeet, then layer on the fish. If the fish is too long, fold over the thinnest end to fit.

Scatter on dried tarragon. Scatter rest of onion on top of fish and then lay silverbeet on top. Pour cream over top, sprinkle over salt and pepper.

Cover and bake in oven for 20 minutes. If the fillets are thick and large, maybe closer to 30 minutes.

 

An InLinkz Link-up

A date with Summer

I don't know why I don't, or haven't done this more often before now. I have brought both the girls here, they have an ice cream or chips and I have a cuppa tea or a coke. We usually occupy the two couches, with the coffee table in between. 

Izzy has been at Kindy all year and I think this is the first time, just me and Summer have come. The couches were taken this day, so we sat right up in the window table, watching the world go by. 

My place in time #21 - What I can see from my window

My first job after I left high school was over the summer, at Campbells deli(not in existence anymore) in Southend. By the sea. Perfect.

At the end of summer when that job finished, I worked here. Ackys Deli. It wasn't called that then, Anns Deli I think it was called, owned by the Atkinson family, hence it being called Ackys then, and now.

I worked here up until just before my 20th birthday. I was almost 7 months pregnant with my first child, Jake.

Before this room was added to the deli, I remember it being a record shop. It was the time before CD's existed. 

I remember flipping through the vinyl records and pawing cassette tapes, feeling a little bit closer to the idols that plastered my walls as a teenager. The first cassette tape I could proudly call my own(that wasn't 'taped' by someone else), was Autumnal Park by Pseudo Echo. In know most of you will be saying Who!? What? No CDs! Pseudo Echo! Don't worry, I am shaking my own head in embarrassment!

What was the first album you ever owned? Could you play it on a walkman? Do you know what a walkman is?!
What was your first job out of school?

Things I know at the end of this week -

1. I need to get out more like this, even if it is with my two year old.
2. I hate paying $3 or more for a cup of black tea, no sugar.
3. Memories from my teenage years make me feel old. 
4. The walkman has been replaced by mp3. Hardware for software. You can't sticky tape mp3!