Turkeys, Pastries, and Thanks

8:30am, Saturday October 22nd. Blue skies are making their best effort to come out and shine for us today, however the clouds are definately lingering like a bad smell. It's been raining and storming all week - some welcome wet after a long dry spell. I am really hoping for more sun than rain today for my Thanksgiving dinner! I know my blogs have been few and far between recently; I blame work for this terrible injustice, draining my creative mental processes and all. But back to the hot topic du jour: today is the day for me to pull off the most thankful of all Thanksgiving dinners in all of Queensland. The idea struck me about 2 weeks ago when I saw all my Canadian friend's facebook status' about yummy turkey dinner etc, so I decided to have one here in Oz. How hard can it be? The fact I've never done one before, let alone for 11 people? No big deal. The fact that whole roast turkeys are about as easy to find here as the Yowie*, Bigfoot or Yeti? No big deal. The fact that decent pre-made pastry, boxed stuffing and gravy thickener don't exist over here? No big deal. There is always a solution if you are smart (which I am). I've called grocery stores and every butcher in town till I found a turkey (apparently 2 x 3.6kg turkeys getting delivered 12pm today, cutting it a bit close I know!), hit up one of the only patissieries in the Cairns region for some freshly made pastry, and make gravy and stuffing from scratch. It's ALLLLL good! Bit stressy and a lot of running around but I've got almost everything sorted! Thank goodness for my British roots providing exceptional organizational skills, and my sister Lisa for being so totally "super duper" awesome and bringing some games and her dddddelicious roast veges!

But now, what is only kind of a big deal............ I think I've decided to stay in Cairns for 2yrs and get sponsered through Ireland's Automotive Group. Although I have doubts about being a service adviser for another 2yrs of my life, nothing is permanent and it is a good opportunity which I think I'd be a fool to pass up. Hopefully things get organized around there and it'll be alright. I've already sold my sweet Aussie car Clarke-Mike because I've been given a new company car through work. I'll get 4 weeks holidays per year with sick days, be able to save money for whatever my next venture is, and get some experienece managerial wise. Everything'll work out - it always does. Oh - and by Aug 22, 2013 I'll be a permanent resident of Australia thanks to the pricey visa I'll be going on. That doesn't mean I'll stay here forever, but at least I'll have that option available to me if I so desire!

So back to Thanksgiving... what is it all about? Well, for me, it's an opportunity to give thanks to all the fantastic people in my life. To remember the goodtimes, create some goodtimes, and look forward to more goodtimes. I've gotten some recipes from Mummy dearest, am bringing Maureen's "Magic French Fudge" to Australia, and am trying to model myself after Michele's (Mum#2) numerous amazing dinner parties over the last year I lived at home with her and Dad. I hope everyone keeps eating tonight after they're full "just for taste" like my Dad does, and partakes openly and freely in the games and festivities that are planned. I'll be bringing together a few different circles of friends tonight, but I think everyone'll get along just great! I belive it's high time for me to start making the stuffing - off I go! Gobble gobble, y'all! Live freely and be happy.

Wondering what the Yowie is? Check out this Top 10 list... http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-australian-mythical-creatures.php