If you were a gangsta, you’d play hacky like this:

Gangsta hacky

And if you were the Karate Kid you’d do it like this (with your Karate Friend doing the moves on the side):

Karate Kid hacky

Whoa, that animation is making me a little motion sick. I apologise for the wonky camera angles – I didn’t intend on making this series an animation.

Charcoal bbqs all the way

The Barbecue

Preferably a charcoal one because after all, a gas bbq is just a big frying pan isn’t it? You can’t beat the taste of char-grilled meat (or vegies for those strange folk). If you must use a gas bbq, then at least leave some burnt bits so we can pretend that you’ve used a real bbq…

Meat

Must – have – meat. That is a rule at our bbqs :)

Nibbles

Let’s face it – everything is always running behind time at bbqs. There’s too much drink, sun and friends around to distract you from cooking at the planned time.

To avoid having a bunch of guests trollied before sun down, have some nibbles available. Favourites are cheese and crackers, chips, vegetables and dip, fruit, peanuts, pistachios and pretzels.

Drinks

It’s pretty common in the Kiwi culture to BYO drinks to a bbq. It’s nice though to provide a few complimentaries, especially some non-alcoholic ones for those who have drawn the short straw to drive. And don’t forget to have a good supply of ice (for cocktails most importantly).

Salads

Manly men (”men, men, men, men, manly men, ooohoo ooo ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh, oooo ooooh, aaaa haaaaa“) might grumble at the thought of having salads at such a primitive occasion as cooking on a fire. None the less, salads are good for you, and your bowels will be thankful especially after you assault it with a large quantity of meat (no dirty puns intended).

Dessert

You cannot forget desserts at a bbq! Pavlova, banoffee pie, cheesecake, chocolate mousse and any other desserts that I have failed to mention :) I will gladly provide the cupcakes.

Good Company

Ensure you invite good friends. They make all the difference to a successful bbq – and they’re less likely to nick your stuff.

Thursday 15 January 2009

I finally wear a skirt to work today – first time for years. Usually it’s too cold inside with the air conditioning, but we’ve fixed that so hooray! Awful photo.

Yay for skirts and warm weather

Friday 16 January 2009

The four of us take off after work to Napier for the weekend. I make the husband stop the car when we spot some miniature horses. This one reminds me of Kurt Cobain.

If Kurt Cobain came back as a mini horse

Saturday 17 January 2009

The weather is fantastic in Napier today.

We go shopping in town, have lunch at a pub (where I am asked for ID, boo!), and visit Hastings where the shops we want to visit are unfortunately closed.

In between Buck’s Fizzes (and beer for the boys) there is some hacky sacking – the most exercise I’ve had in a while!

One of the good old summer sports

Sunday 18 January 2009

The weather is not so fantastic in Napier today.

In between the intermittent downpours we get some lunch that includes some fresh cream donuts and lamingtons – yummy!

Too hot for tea, but not for tea cakes

Monday 19 January 2009

We harvest some peas, courgettes and beans from our garden when we get back from Napier.

A little reward from nature

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Hubby reminds me I need to use up the cream in the fridge.

I make some chocolate cupcakes and ice them with Malibu lemon icing.

Delicious, yes.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

There is a power cut this morning and I have to take a cold shower.

I get to work and find I can’t take any lifts up from Lambton Quay to the Terrace. I walk up Plimmer Steps and notice crowds of people unable to get inside and up to their buildings. The power cut is more wide spread than I first thought.

The power is back by the time I arrive at work, about an hour and a half since the cut began.

Traffic lights out at the intersection of Wellington Road, Kilbirnie Terrace and Hamilton Road