Cold

I don't remember it getting so cold so fast last year at this time.  Probably just getting old.
Had a hard time yesterday with Sarah's birthday for some reason.  Usually we view this anniversary as a happy day, the day she was born, our first child together.  I guess all the bullshit of the last bit of drama with Emily is still with me, even though she is really making an effort and doing what she is supposed to do which is a great improvement.  And I told her so, told her I am proud of her etc.  Got a phone call from the police yesterday.  My first reaction when I realised who was ringing was "What has she done now?" and it made me giggle inwardly.  Out of ALL the so called "helping professionals" in all this, the local police have been the only ones who have really made an effort and actually helped.  He just wanted to know how things were and how Em was going and was pleased when I said that for now, she was doing well.  And I thanked him.
No news on the house we applied for and I have a feeling that we won't get that one.  And while I will go along with this new move, I am not going to go through it all to live in another hovel like this one.  He can go up there on his own and we will stay here until we can find somewhere suitable and NEW.  I am sick of living in falling down houses.

I outdid myself last night in the kitchen.  I made "Crying Tiger" the Thai beef dish that we had on Mothers' Day.  I got a piece of rump steak and marinated it in soy and fish sauces all day, then Phill cooked it on a very hot bbq and sliced it thinly. It was perfectly cooked, we put it on a salad of Chinese cabbage, coriander, mint, shallot, carrot, red onion and cucumber and spooned the sauce over.  Sauce was two chillis (from our garden) with fish sauce and shallots and lime juice and other stuff.  Weird thing was that the recipe I found online had jasmine rice toasted in a frypan  and then crushed in a mortar and pestle (first time I used my new one).  It was added to the sauce and gave a nutty and interesting texture.  I also made a great chicken satay and fish cakes which were better than the restaurant ones we had on Sunday, with a lovely dipping sauce. 
Kate is in Melbourne in a swish hotel for these retail award thingies.  So proud of her and so happy that our relationship is so good these days.  We talk almost daily and she will be here in a few short weeks and I can't wait. 
Really nice last night to talk to Em and Josh about Sarah.  Emily in particular really feels the loss of her older sister.  It's great that we speak of her because it keeps her memory alive.  They couldn't agree (of course) on who would cut her cake so they both did it, one on either side.  You can see my fish cakes behind the cake and the platter of Crying Tiger behind that, or what's left of it.