what are we going to do?

PRICE RISES In the year to June
* Petrol 25.9%
* Milk 22%
* Cheddar cheese 61.9%
* Butter 86.6%

there is rationing already in New York on wheat,rice and corn products because of the increase in demand pushed by BIO-FUEL! There isnt rationing YET here, but the price on these products is tipped to go up so people are buying in large quantities!!

What can we do?
- grow our own corn (better get some seeds before they start getting rationed too!)
- definitely bottle that extra fruit, chutney extra veges from the garden
- trade self sufficiently
- celery, leeks, silverbeet in the garden now . . . get seedling trays ready for seeding summer veges
- compost and enrich empty garden beds...
- do home maintenance yourself! Time to learn if you cant! (I have my own tool box, honestly!) And if my body could do the heavy lifting stuff around here I would...
- what else??? any suggestions? Is it just me that's worried?

The playstation

Now I did not ever want a playstation in our house. I have memories of my husband up at 3am in the morning glued to the playstation when he had to go to work a few hours later at 6am!
So I was rather annoyed when he eventually brought one for our 6yr old son at Christmas last year.
Disappointed that I have to say "i told you so". What did I find at midnight last night when I went to check on the noise I heard in my childrens room? My son whipping the playstation portable quickly underneath his pillow and his red swollen eyes to go with it when I turned on the light! I so wanted to break the thing when I discovered it - what stopped me? My frugal ways and environmentally friendly ways.
My dear son got a chatting to this morning, he is sorry and understands why I was disappointed and why he wont be seeing that damn machine for the rest of the school holidays. Dear husband got a chatting to also!
It's not that big a deal - in the grand scheme of things, i know....but..... oh never mind I dont have to say it - you mothers know!

Plans for 5th birthday party Enchanted Princess

Well - the dress is all cut out. A bit of nerves preventing me from getting to the next step. SEWING. My daughter is turning 5 and for her party she wants to be a Princess. Her favourite movie is Enchanted. I quite like it myself! I will get the dress sewn I am sure!

In the meantime we have been making decorations. On my frugal mission still you see... so we have been cutting out petal shapes from old magazines. Nice big A4 sized and colourful. Then we glue them about 4 or 5 onto a circle and ta-da you have a nice big FLOWER! For an enchanted garden.

My princess loves purple, she and her friend helped to paint egg carton baskets which we will use to hang in the trees with little decorated "jewel stones".

We will decorate downstairs in an enchanted garden theme... wish we could get a wooden castle from somewhere - perhaps I will have to get the good old AFFCO cardboard and paint one!

Have you seen the train cookies at the cafe? I will have to make some cookies for her party now she says! Have to go with my butterfly and flower cutters rather than buying another kind.

And the cake... do I tackle a castle? Gosh looked at the kits to make a grand castle $50 or so - whatever! I think I'll just have to get creative! Castle or enchanted garden cake - maybe a garden will be easier!

....have saved petrol - havent left home since Thursday! woohoo!

Frugal rant

Well TV1s business update wasnt good news on Friday. When will the reserve bank pull finger, wake up and reduce company tax rates and personal tax rates?? They go on making this huge profit whilst NZers suffer at the hand of what both the government and the BIG companies are doing - HEY here is a thought - what if NATIONAL are actually behind the slowing economy? BIG BUSINESS could be ya know... its a well known fact nAtional are for BIG business and to increase NZs economy and getting NZ into great debt whilst doing so.... Well maybe I am on to something here.

Labour have quite a fight here - how will they win an election with general NZers really feeling the pinch.

ok...
The Labour government have done on average a good job, remember they had to clean up Nationals mess. They do have a battle ahead, and I hope they can pull an all round financial winner for us all -

MEANWHILE - I have my sewing machine out, and have pillaged the garden for silverbeet, and made bread today - and saved on petrol for the last two weeks by not going anywhere - oh and I am sitting in the dark hows that!

But look - one thing I am doing towards helping the environment and our household spend!

Bay of Islands Cafe Northland Winner Matariki Festival

We have some great news – we were nominated for the Mataariki Industry Awards, Barkers Cafe of the Year...and we WON!

The 2008 Mataariki Industry Awards is an initiative of “Northland Chefs” who largely make up the newest and youngest Branch of the New Zealand Chefs Association. The Mataariki industry Awards are about recognizing the standard and achievements of those in our region who strive to be the best. This is the ultimate awards of Industry Excellence in Hospitality. This year there were 10 award categories that recognised businesses or business persons.

We attended the delightful dinner last night, entertained by Chef Paul Jobin and the team via a “live feed” from the kitchen. Kate Bell Events transformed the Forum North Events room. With the dazzling fairy lights hanging from the ceiling, organza and taffeta bows galore...it was truly an experience. To top it off the 5 course meal prepared by a different Chef per course (from Northland Chefs Association) and matched by Northland Wines... my taste buds were tantalised and I am looking forward to the next dinner!

A big pat on the back to our team at the cafe (for always giving their best), our suppliers, our loyal customers and our business advisors. Also many cheers to Hospitality Standards Institute, Northland Chefs Association and all the sponsors for the evening and the team of organisers!!

And a reminder we are open weekdays, 7.30AM till 5PM and weekends, 9.30AM till 4PM. And available for private functions, MID-WINTER FUNCTIONS..BIRTHDAYS...

Go Karetu

Oh I so wanted to grab hold of that rope and help!!

Hey we almost had the whole school - what a great turn out!

Puff & Pull Event and Gabriel Steam Trains Grand Welcome

Sunday was awesome! Trek the Track - Jordan and Melissa and Daniel did that part at 8 in the morning. Then I just managed to catch Jordan do the Pull of the Diesel engine through Kawakawa's main street with Karetu School. There was a huge crowd.
We managed to sell hundreds of tickets for the Puff and Pull Monster Raffle. Raising funds to get the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway further down the track to Opua!!