so, hi there

[erilyn]

Aussies, has anyone returned goods to Amazon recently, using a prepaid shipping label supplied by them? I'm just a little confused. Sadly, my Kindle died, but the good news is that they're replacing it! My precious...

So, I'm kind of continuing to suck at this whole updating-lj-on-a-regular-basis thing. Happy New Year, I guess?

State of me:
- pretty stressed over work (so, same as normal for at least 9 months)
- pretty stressed over not being stressed enough over study (my hopefully-last exam is in March)
- not going to the gym enough
- films I've seen most recently (Harry Potter - okay, but dull in patches, like the book) and King's Speech (fucking amazing)
- tentatively planning a trip to South America with my sister for later in the year (omg!)
- reading a fuckload of Glee fic

Perhaps I'll set myself a daily goal of posting a picture that makes me happy? Though perhaps a weekly goal would be more realistic. Anyways, in November, I went to the zoo with my family and iibnf, to see the baby elephants (especially the new baby girl). It was the most gorgeous spring day - blue skies, mild, nice breeze, and crowds weren't too bad at all. Taronga Zoo is right on Sydney Harbour, and the view is a distraction from the exhibits :)

Comments

[canadiankracka.livejournal.com]

Lyn! I was just talking about you with my mom today! What was that white stuff you made with the lychee?

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Gonna need more info - what sort of white stuff? *g* Not a pavlova?

[canadiankracka.livejournal.com]

Yes! Pavlova! How do I make it?

mum's recipe

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

4 egg whites*
Pinch of salt
230g. (8 oz.) Caster sugar
1 tsp (5ml) white vinegar
1 tsp (5ml) vanilla essence
1 level dessertspoon/soupspoon cornflour

Preheat electric oven to 190C. Place a piece of baking paper on baking tray (or pavlova plate).
Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they have formed stiff peaks. Gradually add 230g. (8 oz.) Caster sugar, 1 tsp vinegar, 1 tsp. Vanilla essence and beat until very stiff. It is recommended that this part of the procedure is completed in 5 to 6 minutes – I put the timer on to check this.

Sift (use a plastic tea strainer)1 level soupspoon of cornflour and fold in lightly.

Cut baking paper to fit pavlova plate and heap the mixture onto the surface and shape it suitably (ie check out pavlova on google images for ideas on how they kinda should look *g*).

Using an electric oven: Preheat to 190C (375F), then set at 120C (250F) and bake for 48-53 minutes. Before removing pavlova, check that meringue has formed by lightly tapping the surface – this should be hard, not leathery. A longer baking time will produce a thicker crust if this is desired. Remove pavlova from oven and allow to cool in a warm spot (i.e. not in front of airconditioner or fan). The pavlova will crack a little as it cools but most of this will be covered by the cream.

Top pavlova with whipped cream and decorate with fruit as desired.

Notes:
* Egg whites – I use the 350g eggs (1/2 doz.) and for these I add an extra soupspoon of caster sugar. If using even larger eggs, remember that quite a lot more egg white is provided and proportionally more of the other ingredients should be used.
* The best results are obtained when the eggs are fresh so that the whites are more gel-like (not watery).

Re: mum's recipe

[canadiankracka.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! I will attempt to make this soon (and probably fail miserably lol). Love to your mum! <3

Re: mum's recipe

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I find that making the mixture isn't too bad, the only tricky thing is shaping the sticky mixture into a pavlova-ish shape. Running a flat bladed knife under hot water makes for a useful shaping tool.

Re: mum's recipe

[canadiankracka.livejournal.com]

9 months later, I am finally making it!! haha I'll let you know how it turns out.

Re: mum's recipe

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

The picture looked very good on twitter, did it turn out okay? :D

Re: mum's recipe

[canadiankracka.livejournal.com]

It was super delicious!!

[elegantcrimes.livejournal.com]

South America!!! That is so close to North America you should swing on up to NYC. ;)

I actually need to make a goal soon about getting out to see you. For serious. I need to fully abuse all the places I know people in my attempts to travel overseas as much as possible.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

We looked briefly at trying to have a few days in Hawaii, but flights were just insanely expensive to come back home that way. NY might be more reasonable, but I suspect we won't have time ;)

And you totally should!

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

Baby elephant! SLEEPING KOALA! :D

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

The baby was just precious, running around and trying to climb a little hill.

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

Meerkats!!!!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

always a hightlight :)

[eitheror.livejournal.com]

I had to return my first Kindle too, and I couldn't work out how to make the supposedly pre-paid label actually print out so it was pre-paid. I ended up just paying shipping myself, since my flatmate did kind of kneel on my Kindle in the first place, which killed the screen.

But then, to my great delight, Amazon refunded me twice for the replacement Kindle. Huzzah! Free Kindle!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I asked at the post office, and they said it wasn't pre-paid. I'll just have to fork out the money, though I swear the customer service person I spoke to mentioned that they'd reimburse me if I had to pay myself, so we'll see...

Yes, I can't get too worked up over having to pay (the fucking expensive, cause it has to be trackable) shipping, since I'm pretty sure I...contributed to the screen getting broken/frozen.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

The baby elephant is adorable!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

She was so active and playful, it was awesome :)

[hnix.livejournal.com]

Man, that sucks about your kindle. :( Do you want to get it sent via me again?

Also, that picture of the bb with tire is adorable, awww.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

It's a replacement for my own Kindle, so it's coming straight here, but thank you! I took some of the photos and Sam took the others, I think that one might be one of hers...but we were so lucky with how active and playful the baby was, it was awesome :)