I was thinking about keeping my birdies warm on the boat now that it is almost autumn and came across this little number...



All from the Chicken Suits website. And no you can't ask how I found it....

Talk about Strike a pose..... Do you think it comes in cockatiel size? Hmmm... I think the ensemble needs a hat to finish it off.

I got a lovely package from a good friend in Adelaide - it's always wonderful to get news and goodies from Australia. I'm very fortunate to have such a good friend who still remembers me and keeps in touch. She had included a long letter, a brief card, loads of delicious recipes for us to try and several humourous postcards and clippings of cartoons from The Age that she thought I'd enjoy - and I did!

The goodies were a joy as well. I could smell how wonderful it was when I picked it up at the post office and when Lars-Göran read the magic word "confectionary" on the customs slip, he practically pushed me home to open it up. While I was reading the enclosed card, he snatched one of the Cherry Ripes she sent and had already eaten half of it when I read her words about enclosing them as they were essential for one of the recipes she'd sent. Oops.... But then I read the recipe and it was fine - you don't need them at all, but it was a close moment.

She had also enclosed some spices - an aromatic homeblended garam masala, a Sri Lankan raw curry blend and something called Outback Blend from the Melbourne based Screaming Seeds Spice Company - a delicious mix of Cumin Seeds, Coriander Seeds, Garlic, Cardamon Seeds, Tumeric, Cinnamon Quills, Sea Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Native Mint, Island Celery. They make a range of spice blends based on our own native spices and I think they are ideal as gifts for foodie friends for those of us living overseas. Why not show off some of the country's unique flavours? It was this aroma that made the package smell so wonderful!

I dug further and came across three packets of Lemon Myrtle Tea (a refreshing native Australian tea that I am hopelessly addicted to and miss terribly). Of course, I had to pop on the kettle immediately and celebrate with a hot cuppa and some toast with Vegemite. There were also packets of Aeroplane Jelly Crystals (can you believe that you can't get something this basic in a supposedly civilised country?) and some interesting looking new Aussie lollies Natural Jelly Squirms and Unbearables - both of which I've hidden away before they get scoffed by the resident sweet-toothed member of the family. I'll let you know what we think.

I'm off now to Stockholm for the day, then heading back to the boat to sail some more. Blogging may be sporadic or not at all over the next few weeks depending on how long we stay out and whether we can find internet connection anywhere we go. So be good and don't do anything I wouldn't do.....