Five years after jilting his pregnant fiancée on their wedding day, out-of-shape Dennis decides to run a marathon to win her back. Of course it’s not quite that simple - the reason for Denis’ sudden interest in running is a challenge presented by the new boyfriend - the swank, sophisticated and wealthy American. So as well as the standard “boy has girl, boy throws girl away, boy is shown that he can’t live without girl, boy proves his worth, boy wins back girl” story, this is also a “American moves in on boy’s territory, American is so much better in all ways than British boy, boy rises to challenge and proves that plucky middle class Brit has more heart and is better in all ways than upstart American” story.

Very predictable, but still well done and very entertaining and we laughed - which honestly was he whole point of watching it in the first place. I do wonder how much Nike paid for the gratuitous product placement…

Filed under: Movies and TV, Uncategorized by Kersti
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I found this website today - it is so incredibly cool. Instead of converting units to other units, which honestly mean almost nothing, convert them to sensible units instead.

So, according to this website I weigh about the same as 13 domestic cats and I’m the same height as 5.3 chopsticks laid end to end.

How many cats do you weigh???

http://sensibleunits.com/

Filed under: Geek, Websites by Kersti
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It strikes me as ironic that we’re hearing reports of senate inquiries into Gordon Ramsey’s swearing being allowed through on TV in Australia when the Australian government’s tuorism campaign has caused so much fuss with the line “Where the bloody hell are ya?”

Although I must say that I do agree with a time limit on the language, it really shouldn’t be shown before 9pm to allow parents half a chance at raising kids who can string a sentence together that doesn’t contain profanity if they wish to do so.

And why should the focus be placed on Gordon himself when the TV stations have editing suites and are quite capable of masking the offensive words? Or when parents these days have ready access to recording devices that would allow them to watch such programs at a time when their children are in bed?

Filed under: Movies and TV by Kersti
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South Australia bucks trend and dumps plastic bags
By Pia Akerman

June 19, 2008 01:58am
Article from: The Australian

SOUTH Australia has introduced legislation to ban lightweight plastic shopping bags.

All thin plastic bags supplied at supermarket checkouts and take-away food outlets will be banned from next May, but heavier bags used by department stores and boutiques will not be affected.

Retailers must provide an alternative to the plastic bags from January during a four-month transition period, The Australian reports.

South Australia’s ban goes against the national trend, with Victoria the only other state to adopt the policy.

The Environment Protection and Heritage Council rejected a national ban or plastic bag levy in April, despite federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett lobbying for a phase-out by the year’s end.

South Australian Environment Minister Gail Gago said plastic bags were an “environmental menace” that about 12,500 retailers across the state would have to do without.

Saw this article today and must say that it’s a damn good thing and I think everyone should do this. In Ireland there is a levy for all plastic bags - but honestly the flimsy supermarket style ones are terrible. More often than not they have holes in them so you can’t use them as a rubbish bag even if you wanted to. I’d love to see them phased out here as well and make it so that you can only buy the thicker plastic (paper bags with Irish weather are not a good mix!) or non-plastic alternatives.

Filed under: Shopping by Kersti
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I decided today to bake some scones, it’s been a while and I’m getting absolutely fed up with the scones you buy here that should by rights be renamed rock cakes. I did put it off for a while as this recipe uses my least favourite cooking technique - the rubbing in method. You end up with your hands all caked with goo and by the time you manage to wash it all off, your skin feels so dry and horrible - the only thing for it is to cheer yourself up with some yummy scones!

How do you pronounce the word? For me it should rhyme with John. Apparently that’s the majority verdict too.

And for my American friends, this is more like a fluffy bread style cake than like the thing you’d call a scone.

Anyway, here’s the recipe - enjoy!

Basic Scones

Preparation time: 20 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Makes: 20
Source: Australian Women’s Weekly Cakes Bakes Desserts

4 cups (600g) self-raising flour
2 tablespoons icing sugar60g butter
1½ cups (375ml) milk
¾ cup (180ml) water

• Preheat oven to 220C (200C fan-forced). Grease a 20×30cm lamington pan.
• Sift flour and sugar into large bowl; rub in butter with fingertips.
• Make a well in centre of flour mixture; add milk and almost all the water. Use knife to “cut” the milk and water through the flour mixture, mixing to a soft, sticky dough. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth.
• Press dough out to 2cm thickness. Dip 4.5cm round cutter in flour; cut as many rounds as you can. Place the scones, sides just touching, in the pan.
• Brush tops with a little extra milk; bake about 15mins or until the scones are just browned and sound hollow when tapped firmly on the top with fingers.

To keep - best made on the day they are eaten, but can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in oven, wrapped in foil.

Oh and remember that the less you kneed the lighter the end result.

Serve with jam and clotted cream.

Filed under: Recipes by admin
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