Our Zorb Experience

Yesterday, Sarah and I came back from our girls weekend away in Rotorua to celebrate her 13th birthday! We had such a fabulous weekend away.
Our highlight of the trip was going on the Zorb. It is when you are in a large inflatable globe, rolling down a hill! There are 2 options-

1) You are strapped inside the globe with a harness, where you will tumble head-over-heels down the hill. Ride this option solo.
2) You are inside the globe with a few buckets of warm water, sloshing and sliding down the hill, inside the globe. You can share this experience with up to 2 friends.

Sarah and I did the wet option together. There was a lot of laughter and squealing on the way down. Thought I'd share a few photo's of our experience:

This is us in action! You can't see us, but we are inside the inner globe:

Us inside the Zorb, after the ride:

After the ride:
It was a really fun weekend. Bye for now,

Debbie

Slow Dance

I was emailed this poem last week and often being so busy, I don't take the time to read things like this. But this one got my attention. It was written by a teenage girl in America who had cancer and had six months to live. I thought I'd share it with you because often we are so busy and miss out on those small, but important events in life.

Slow Dance

Have you watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground
Ever followed a butterflys' erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the
Fading night
You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last
Do you run through each day
On the fly
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last
Ever told your child
We'll do it tomorrow
And in your haste
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say hi
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last
When you run so fast to
Get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there
When you worry and hurry through the day
It is like an unopened gift, thrown away
Life is not a race
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over

Debbie

Christmas Cake Cook Up

Today is our Christmas cake cook up. We do cakes every year for ourselves and gifts. Sarah and I managed to make 4 mini cakes and one big square one for the community dinner at church. We will also make up Christmas cake boxes to put the cakes in for wee gifts. Sarah even made a sign.
Thought I'd share the great recipe:

Christmas Cake - for 20-23cm cake tin

250 grams butter-softened
250 grams sugar
1 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp lemon essence
1/2 tsp almond essence
1/2 tsp brandy essence
2 tabs golden syrup-warmed
4 eggs
250 grams flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 kg mixed fruit
Optional ingredients:
50 grams chopped cherries
50 grams crystallized peel
50 grams chopped blanched almonds
50 grams preserved ginger

Prepare cake tin. Line with 2-3 thicknesses newspaper then greased greaseproof paper.
Stir one cup flour of the flour into the mixed fruit (plus optional dried fruit and almonds)
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the spices, essences and golden syrup.
Add eggs one at a time, beat well after each one.
Add salt, remaining flour and mixed fruit. stir thoroughly.
Spoon mixture into prepared cake tin, make a slight hollow in the centre of the top so that the cake rises evenly.
Bake at 125 degrees C for 2 1/2-3 1/2 hours or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave in the tin until cold.
If you are not going to ice the cake you can decorate with cherries, blanched almonds or Brazil nuts over the top of the cake. For a shiny look, brush over the top of the fruit with a sugary syrup, half an hour before the end of cooking time. Enjoy!

Debbie