Farmer's market, slow cooked beef stroganoff (and leftover pie)

Last Monday - the last day of my long long weekend - I put the slowcooker on and sat and relaxed. Slowcookers are wonderful that way. They cook your food while you do something else, or nothing at all.

I've been going to my local farmer's market on a Sunday, after seeing the cows on Four Corners. I want to eat ethically and locally raised meat. From my parents' property or from the farmer's market. So while I've eaten meat out at restaurants (and spent a full week vegetarian), the only meat I've cooked has been my parents' lamb and local beef from Family Farmed Meats. I also try to buy my fruit and vegies from local grocers - so good to support them, and much tastier!

The market is lovely - in a shed at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds every Sunday from 9.00 am - 1.00 pm. It has fruit and vegies, baked goods, meat, honey and cheese.

 L'Artisan Cheese from Timboon is amazing. Seriously :)

 

 I bought the triple cream brie, the big white one. It's soft, creamy and strong. Better than any supermarket cheese!

 Michael's breaky barbie is fantastic! He has a small menu but so tasty! The hot chocolate is wonderful.

This is the best breakfast ever - poached egg with polenta, fried bread, a salad of greens, fennel and cabbage, topped with beetroot in yoghurt, celeriac and lentil purees. ♥

So, I used the meat I bought at the market, along with some vegies bought at the market and my local grocer to make the stroganoff.  Carrots, beans, mushrooms, eggplant, tomato, capsicum, sweet potato and pumpkin (kindly cut by my grocer due to my thumb). I loved the sun through the window as I took these photos.

I got by with a little help from my friends - convenience seasonings. These eliminated the chopping - my thumb was too sore. And the slowcooker seasoning pack adds lots of flavour.

 Here's the beef. So tasty, and great value.

 All in the slowcooker. This was about six servings.

Towards the end of cooking, I added sour cream and also cooked pasta bows for serving. It was so very yummy!! I had it for dinner once, and two lunches in the week.

I still had a pot of leftovers, so I reheated it on Saturday night and made it into a pie. I love this pot - so vibrant :)

 My pastry was a little broken.

 I pieced them together in the pie dish and hoped for the best.

 And the topping! Not a pretty pie, but a good use of leftovers!!

The Hottie Challenge (or the creative exercise I wish I could enter a written or cooked product)

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I love to create. In my head. In reality my crafts turn out nothing like I envisaged. When I craft on my own I can't wait for the session to be over. I am impatient, and coupled with a (still) sore thumb, my creations look very pre-school artist. I wish I could write or cook my way out of crafting. Having said that, crafting as a group is so much fun and I really want to do it!

I was crafting as a part of the Hottie Challenge run by Open Drawer. It's a challenge to create hot water bottle covers to raise money for the The Margaret Pratt Foundation. Camille from CurlyPops is coordinating a blogger Hottie Challenge.

From their website:

The Margaret Pratt Foundation Heart Lung Transplant Trust is a registered charity whose aim is to encourage, develop and maintain Australia’s world class expertise in the field of organ transplantation by supporting research that addresses the problems faced by children and adults after heart and lung transplant. 

The aim of the research must be to improve the outcomes for heart and lung transplant recipients.  

The Margaret Pratt Foundation has donated $700,000 to date in 2011 to promote research into the causes and prevention of chronic lung rejection.

Read more about the Hottie Challenge at CurlyPops' blog.

Of course I wanted to take part, in order to support Cam and others needing heart and lung transplants.

I wanted to make a panda hottie. I imagined it'd be grand. Cute and panda looking. 

Like this.

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But it turned out like this.

My friend M sewed the main part. I sewed the draw string bit. So proud given I am not a sewer, and my thumb was aching.

I used a hand puppet template for the panda's features. I glued them on.

It's not a functional hot water bottle cover, but it doesn't have to be. I wish I was a better, more patient, and more skilled crafter. Post thesis resolution!

What should I call him?

Check out the other Hottie Challenge creations - they are AMAZING!

In corporate terms, I discovered three learning gaps doing the Hottie Challenge. I need lessons in craft, patience and hot glue gunning.

Accidentally gourmet mustardy duck pasta

I worked up a hefty appetite this strenuous afternoon, filled with sitting on the couch in my jama pants and woolly jumper, reading newspapers and blogs and watching the ABC's 24 hour news channel. So with the lack of pre-packaged foods in my cupboard, and my jama pant situation preventing me leaving the house, I had to 'cook' something. I call this 'Carly's Mystery Cooking Foray'. It could have ended in tears, but it ended up surprisingly tasty. You too can foray into the mystery. For I am sharing the recipe!

My mystery ingredients were pasta (not a mystery), butter, duck rillettes and dijonnaise. The last three ingredients were the first I pulled from the fridge.

It's so easy I've abbrev. the recipe (ie - cut and pasted it from Facebook).

1. Cook pasta in m/wave for 5 mins. I cooked 1/2 cup elbow macaroni. 

2. While pasta cooks, reach into fridge, blindfolded if you like, and grab three items. I chose butter, duck rillettes (potted duck) and dijonnaise. Cut a teeny bit of butter off, about 1/2 cm cubed, and spoon one heap each of dijonnaise and duck rillette (no fat) onto a tiny plate made in a small country town given to you by your parents. Mix around with spoon or knife.

3. Drain pasta and stir in the 'sauce' - the hot bowl will cook it. 

It tasted creamy and mustardy. Accidentally gourmet. Yum!

I didn't take a photo of the end product, as I didn't predict its success, but it looked a bit like mac and cheese, but with mustard seeds through it. This is a pilfered picture of mac and cheese.

Try it with other mystery ingredients. May not work well with anchovies, chocolate sauce and chutney though ;)

Ladies of the 4 Ingredients fame, look out.

My thoughts on Zara - no vlog

The previous video I posted about Zara didn't load all the way.

Here are my thoughts in text form...

I went to Zara yesterday. I read Skylark's post re Zara and I had it running through my mind as I looked through the store. These are my thoughts on the store after visiting:
- I didn't see many standout items. Fabric looked cheap on so many tops and dresses. How it can be compared to Cue and Witchery escapes me.
- So much stock combined with the recent opening frenzy makes people a bit mindless, and selfish/rude too. Customers were pushing a little, standing in the way of stock, and it generally wasn't a pleasant shopping experience.
- So much stock was overwhelming.
- Styles were bland and boring. Blarah.
- The bright colours were garish.
- The store looks nice but lacks in presentation quality due to rummaging/constant replenishing of stock. So many clothes were creased.
- Prices weren't uber cheap when quality is considered.
- I prefer Target and Temt for the cheap and not so nasty, and Cue for the style.

Having said that I did find one gem at a reasonable price and bought it. A black spotted dress.

Cue does Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton's bridesmaid dress is at Cue, the media is saying. I saw it last week and had to hold the dress and get a photo with it. I LOVED Pippa's dress and was so excited to see an inspired design by my favourite label Cue.

The dress is a beautiful heavy shiny material, maybe satin. My friend who took the photo of me and the dress sort of understood my excitement.

I rarely try clothes on in store, so here is an actual model in the Cue dress.

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While the Cue dress is shorter than Pippa's, the cowl neck, sleeves and skirt is very similar. And for $219, it's accessible. You too can get an arse dress like Pippa

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Teaser of Darren Hayes' Talk Talk Talk video

Darren Hayes' single Talk Talk Talk will be released worldwide on Friday 24 June. 

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Darren has released a teaser of the video on his YouTube channel. It's fun, upbeat and even though it's only a 30 second clip, Darren's songwriting gift shines through.



Purely pop, Talk Talk Talk sits well with its contemporaries (though my bias means I prefer it more) and I hope this style bodes it well for radio play and good sales.

I love it! I am very excited for this new release and look forward too hearing what the album has to offer.

For official news and updates see www.darrenhayes.com

The unpredictability of it all

I hate the unpredictability of my illness. I can feel great for a good period of time, and then wake up in so much pain. It's like the good spate doesn't count for anything. I can eat well, get lots of rest, keep warm and avoid allergies and scratches, and something happens with my body to quickly make it sore. Never a dull moment in my life.

Today was one of those days - I woke up suddenly sore. I did go out with Heidi for dinner last night and I was feeling tired and a little sore sitting on the chair - constantly moving to find a more comfortable position, but just put it down to my thumb. Fortunately I didn't get an infection in my cut thumb. The painkillers are making it feel better, and though it's still painful and I cannot write with it, it is healing quite well. I woke up with painful skin on my legs this morning - the skin felt like it was stripped of its protective top layer, and was so tender, throbbing and I felt very cold. I lasted just over two hours at work. I went home and cocooned myself in my warm bed. It's amazing what a sleep and in a warm bed can do - and my painkillers for my thumb have helped a little, too.

I am going to get a long night's rest now - the night seems to go longer with Tramadol (I swear this isn't a sponsored advertorial for my painkillers!) and hope to wake up fresh and less sore tomorrow. I have a job interview tomorrow so I better feel well :)

I hate that I can't control the pain. But I know with some positive thinking I'll be ok!

And someone said I looked pretty today, so that was a really nice thing to detract from the pain.

PS: if you want to help a family in need, head over to Nico's Toybox - an auction to raise money to buy special toys for a very special little boy. Karin from Sleep Deprived Mum wrote about the financial struggle to get a special toy for her little boy Nico, who was born 24 weeks early and has a severe disability. Toys are around $400, and the family has one on loan. Nico's Toybox has been set up by a group of Mums who want to raise money for Nico. With the help of community spirit and donations, Nico will be able to have some toys to keep and play with.

I promised myself I wouldn't think of you today

I want to show you this but I probably won't. I justifiably could though, given all the times you've been so joltingly honest with me.

I wonder if a whole year will go by without me thinking of you every day. Sometimes I just want to think of someone else.

While your list of cons far outstretches the pros, I still think you're perfect. I told you I loved you, and you asked me not to. And I try.

I can remember every. single. thing. Conversations, smiles, breaths, attraction and affection, the love I felt, the hurt I felt, and the frustration. Everything. And the feelings between us are likely to be so uneven, weighted to my crazy, irrational, not a chance in hell but I'll keep loving you anyway side.

There's a reason that I keep buried inside - a reason why you still mean so much to me. I can't articulate it to anyone, not to you, not even to myself. I wonder if I'll ever find that again.

My life isn't on hold. I'm having a great time. I'm not waiting for you. Of course I'd love for you to hold me again, even for us to talk and laugh together again. I'm being a realist, knowing better than those wishes. I am waiting for the day when my heart and mind is with someone else. I look forward to someone else catching my eye. For thoughts of them to make me dizzy with excitement. I haven't felt that for so long. Not since you.

Dogversionary tactics

I have a yearning to wear hats with animal ears. This yearning has only come about in recent years. Late 20s. Not age five. Check my Google search history and you will see I have searched for 'hats with animal ears' several times a day.

I found this unicorn onesie that I really really want.

Not sure where I'd wear it to, but I could see it next to my best dresses in my wardrobe.

On Saturday I saw a hat with animal ears! A black dog. $20! And I bought it.

I channeled a canine Olsen Twin Chic in a long skirt and jacket and my dog hat.

 People who stared at me didn't know where to look. Red face, dog hat, no, red face, NO, DOG HAT!

I call this diversionary tactics. When I wear something that takes the attention from my 'sunburn'. It confuses the onlookers.

In this case, I call it dogversionary tactics. Woof!

Thumbs up - video blog

Thanks for watching!!

Video blog

It's really not very interesting.

But I'd like to think you watched it anyway.

Music I've been missing - Pink, The one that got away/Adele, Someone like you

Each Queen's Birthday long weekend I get nostalgic. About a boy. Of course. To my detriment, my memory's like a really well detailed diary. And I can remember conversations, looks, movements and events like they've just taken place. I realised that this event happened four years ago. And for perhaps three subsequent years I teetered between being glad and regretting it ever happened. (This teetering still applies now - similar situation, different boy.) Time flies. And the lyrics of songs remind me of that Queen's Birthday long weekend 2007. Pink and Adele is the music I've been missing. The songs are about love lost, the one that got away, and holding onto memories.

When I hear this song I think about what may have been.

"You were mine
In the back of my mind
Oh just for one night
Just for a while..."

The presenter who announces this song talks about a singer who you've never met being able to describe how you felt during an exact moment in your life. Adele seems to know exactly how I feel about love.

"I had hoped you'd see my face,
And that you'd be reminded that for me it isn't over,

Nevermind, I'll find someone like you,
I wish nothing but the best for you, too,
Don't forget me, I beg..."

That Queen's Birthday long weekend was spent at my parents' house. I traveled up in the car on the Friday night with some friends who also have family there. My Dad had just had an operation. My best male friend called me on the Saturday night asking me to come over on the Sunday night.

I had been friends with this boy for years - since the final year of school. He is the same age as me. We worked together. I'd always thought he was cute but I was only ever interested in someone else I worked with. When I moved to Melbourne we grew closer - talking on the phone for ages. I'd hang out with him when I went back home. He was funny, cute and intelligent. One day I realised I really liked him. I think the day I realised I liked him was in 2005 when he came to stay with me in Melbourne and we saw a concert together. There was a moment between us - that never went far - plus he sat through a Savage Garden DVD to help me connect my DVD player to my TV.

Of course I never said anything about my feelings to him. I would just sit and watch the footy or cricket to be with him. When I moved back with my parents in 2006, we'd hang out together almost every Friday night, watching the Chaser and listening to music. He took me out for dinner on my last night before I moved back to Melbourne. I hadn't fallen for someone like I did for him for a while.

So that weekend in 2007. I was quite sore so I had told Mum I wouldn't be home late. I drove her car to his place. I took him some beer to thank him for having me. We did the usual arguing about what we'd have for dinner. We went out for Mexican. He was happy. His football team had won. He'd been drinking all afternoon. He let me drive his car. I had one wine at dinner, he had margaritas, and would only let me have a sip as he knew I'd get drunk on just the smell of it. He kept on telling me he thought the waitress was hot. After dinner we went to the pub - the one we'd hang out at after work all those years ago. It was a freezing night. We stood by the fire but an older woman - a boiler as my Dad would say - was eyeing him off and so I asked him if we could sit down in a booth. A guy who recognised me from pre-school came up to talk to us for ages. When he left, the boy was telling me how hot the girl at the bar was. I'd had enough.

I told him he can't talk to me like I am his mate. He said I am his mate. I said I know, but I am also a girl. I said he can't take me out for dinner, pay for a $100 meal, buy me drinks, let me drive his car, and tell me he thinks the barmaid is hot. He didn't see this as a problem. I said he doesn't know how I feel about him, and walked out of the pub - with his car keys. He had to come with me of course.

When we got back to his house we were cold and warmed up by the heater. There was a lot of flirting. He asked me to cut his hair. I did. I told him that I bet the barmaid wouldn't have cut his hair. And then it happened. We had this massive playfight and fits of laughter. He kissed me. Several times.

At 3 am his house phone rang. He told me to answer it. It was my Mum. Worried sick that I'd not come home. And I was at the awkward moment of not knowing whether I was going to stay the night. I didn't want to ask him.

We kissed some more. And then he asked me to stay. And then he said he couldn't do this. And that he hoped he "hadn't fucked things up between us".

I got up to leave. He told me he liked me a lot but I was "too fucking special". Compliment? I looked him in the eyes and told him I'd loved him for a very long time.

We've only spoken of that night once since it happened. I've seen him twice - both times were very difficult. I once got drunk after some dwarfs called me ugly and said "I know you don't love me back but some dwarfs called me ugly...".

We still talk. Things aren't as awkward anymore but the flow and length of conversation is not the same.  He told me once about a girl he'd been seeing. I never wished him well then, but maybe I would now. I can't bring myself to talk to him about the current boy I love. It makes me sad.

Four years have passed and I still wish we still had the friendship we once had.  Last Christmas he sent me a text, telling me how lucky he is to have me in his life.

The one that got away. The story of my late 20s.

More vintage - the primary school years

Here are some of the clothes I wore in my primary school years. I don't recall too many pictures being taken of me past primary school. These make me laugh.

Some clothes were questionable, like these Christmassy double striped pants next to my Mum's red striped top.

I think this dress was so pretty and I wish I still had it. I don't think I wore it much.

TRIPLE denim!!!!!! Eeek.

And this one - what I wore to my year six graduation. I love everything about it and would love a recreation! LOVE the colour of the suit, love the bell sleeves.

See more vintage pictures here and here.

Listography - best decisions I've made

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This week's Listography challenge by Kate Takes 5 is five of the best decisions you've made. I can't think of too many bad decisions I've made. I am a strong believer that decisions and choices you make can determine the type of life you have. Your decisions can make you happy. I am really happy for the decisions I've made.

Moving to Melbourne in 2003
When I was almost finished my undergraduate degree I applied for 26 jobs in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. I never wanted to stay in the country. I saw no future there for me. I wanted to escape the small town and often small minds. And I've never looked back. I have a great, secure job, doing a postgraduate course I actually want to do, seen countless bands, met lots of friends and done so many exciting things. Moving to Melbourne has given me independence. I am always in awe of the prospects Melbourne has to offer. I love this city.

Taking control over my illness
From an early age I've made my own decisions about my illness. I've chosen a positive outlook. It's less tiring than a negative one. I've made my own decisions about medications, and often stood firm on my own beliefs and choices over doctors' advice. I spent a lot of time being a guineapig for educating doctors and for different treatments (herbal potions and prescription drugs). I made a decision to choose my wellbeing over severe treatments resulting in severe side effects, and the loss of dignity. I know my body better than any specialist, and I appreciate that my medical team respects this.


Being confident about my illness
It took me some time - perhaps due to necessity to educate - but I am so glad I've been confident about my illness and shared my experiences. I acknowledged I have a chronic illness for the first time. It was the start of my work in the disability community. I wrote an article at work, received some great responses from so many staff I knew and didn't know, and then I realised I may be able to help people by sharing my story. I then applied to be a mentor at the Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS) program, one of the best experiences in my life, gave some speeches, started this blog, auditioned for No Limits and won the part, and the rest is history. Since the start of my confidence journey, I've won three major awards and been a finalist for another. I am really glad to be able to help people, but more importantly, gain a new awareness about chronic illness and disabilities.


Writing and blogging
I am so glad I've started blogging and believed in my writing. You know how much it all means to me and the opportunities that have come my way. It makes for a great escape and also great skill and network development.


Being a food lover
I eat to live - I need to nourish my skin with great food - but I also live to eat. I love food and I am so glad my parents encouraged me to try all foods I am offered. Cooking and eating excites me no end. I remember great meals. I wish they'd last forever. I also believe that being willing to try a variety of foods makes you easier to cook for and to take to dinner.


What are the best decisions you've made?

Blogs of note

The internet showcases some brilliant talent. I love discovering gems and really delving into peoples' thoughts and creativity. I've been reading some blog posts that I'd like to share with you. Please take a read. I hope you love them like I do.

The first one is by a friend of mine who hasn't been blogging long. I shared this on Twitter and Facebook and a number of friends have loved this post and shared it too. Beautiful by Jess at 91 Odd Socks.

Jess's writing is amazing. The metaphors and imagery she creates heals the pain she writes of and feels every day. She sees the world differently. She sees beauty everywhere. And she's wise beyond her years. Look at this passage:

"From a very young age, I have known that not everyone is normal. Some of us  have scars, burns, tubes, and prosthetics, wheels, tracheotomies, no hair and oxygen tanks. Some of us can’t walk, breathe or even eat like you can.

But we can still hear your whispers, see your pointing tips, feel your stares, taste your smiles of pity.

For once, pretend that we look like everyone else. Treat us as you would the giggling girls in high heels, the boys with their hats on the wrong way."

A powerful writer. Embrace her please.

Welcome to the InterWebs by Veronica Foale.

It's a fictitious series with some real-life wisdom about the blogging community. Anna, the series' protagonist, goes on a journey to find her place in the InterWebs. I like the idea of bloggers being in a community, yet doing their own thing.

Still sort of on that topic, Miscellaneous Mum writes about finding the right voice when blogging, the homogenisation of blogging, and that blogging can become competitive. And these factors may take the fun from blogging.

I went to an Emerging Writer's Festival session today and one of the messages I took away was to appreciate your fellow writers, belong to the community and cultivate relationships with them. Writing is not a competition, it's a community. I like that idea.

And despite what critics say, I love fashion bloggers. I love their passion for clothes, and their creativity. Fashion blogs inspire me. I love that fashion bloggers don't often write much (but still write well) still inspire me. I came across Rose Petals in the Rain a few months ago, and her dreamy outfits make me smile and sigh simultaneously. I adore the purple dress she wears in the screenshot below, and also this grey and pink beauty.

Enjoy!

Consulting my stylist.

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I've been busy. Today I consulted my stylist because tomorrow I have a photoshoot. Yes, tomorrow I have a photoshoot. For a magazine. More details later. My stylist is Cheryl from Business Chic. She is awesome. We played with clothes. So much fun.

 

 

 

The photoshoot is at my house. MY HOUSE!! Must dash. I need to clean. Really. My kitchen is clean. But I really wish my liquor cabinet was better stocked right now. Cleaning is better with a cider in hand.

Grit Media showcase - disability on TV

I recently spoke at a Grit Media showcase - displaying and celebrating the opportunities Grit Media provides. No Limits, The Boldness, screen production and training programs. It was held in the new space in the RMIT school of media and communication (my course's home) and we were treated to drinks and canapes. Plus it was good to catch up with the cast and crew and meet Grit Media board members. 

I had many an oyster. And many a champagne.

 There were pumpkin tarts and mini lamb burgers, and tiny pies. Catering was by Meals on Heels.

 Here is me speaking during the formal part of the event.

And with Kye - I guess he is the floor manager. He said he liked me enough to take a series of photos of me but not enough to use up all the space on his memory card.

A few people asked me how my speech went. Here it is for you to read. Thank you.

When was the last time you saw people with disabilities featured or even celebrated in the media, telling their own stories, specifically, on TV? I can think of a very recent example with John Hughes on MasterChef – John has cerebral palsy and was applauded for a courageous cooking decision rather than his courageousness that comes with having a disability. And I loved British Next Top Missing Model shown on ABC2 a couple of months ago. There has been Glee, The Librarians, the movie The Black Balloon, Packed to the Rafters, Summer Heights High and Angry Boys. But these depictions are just that. Depictions. It is not often people with disabilities can tell their own stories in the media with dignity, humour and intelligence. 

Disability on the screen often means stories of pity, portrayals of freakshows and ugly ducklings, and the celebration of the supercrip. It might be tabloid journalists telling stories on behalf of people with disabilities. It might be a sensationalist medical show convincing viewers that disabilities, chronic illness and body differences are shocking and gross out material. These types of depictions are sort of educative but they can also create ignorance in viewers. There have been a few TV shows featuring young people with a similar skin condition to mine - ichthyosis. Colleagues who don't know me well tell me they’ve watched the show and now know all there is to know about ichthyosis even though my skin differs greatly to the girls in the TV shows. Recently a woman in a store told me she's seen me on TV. Yes! I am on Channel 31's No Limits, I said, very excited that someone is watching! She said no, she's seen I have a sister (I don't) and that I scrub my skin for two hours a day (I don't). She’d been watched Medical Incredible over on the other channel. I told her to watch No Limits. 

No Limits celebrates disability though enabling a cast and crew with a wide range of disabilities and chronic illnesses to participate in the media. It accurately reflects disability in society. It is empowering, both for the cast and crew, and the audience.

I know my work on No Limits has had an impact on my immediate circle of friends and colleagues - most of who don't have disabilities. I had friends and colleagues willing to star in comedy sketches that I'd written. Friends watch me on TV. One friend said her whole family had a big discussion about whether they'd like to be cured of their illnesses after watching the No Limits cures episode.

I have been a presenter on No Limits since July 2010. In this time, I have learnt interview and research skills, spoke at length about disability issues, and I’m still working on speaking fluent autocue. I have learnt about a range of disabilities, the challenges faced, and how people manage them. The No Limits cast and crew are intelligent, dedicated, highly skilled and very supportive. I have also formed some valuable networks and more importantly, great friends, who understand the difficulties and milestones of having a disability or chronic illness. 

The work we do on No Limits is voluntary. Some of us have full time jobs in addition to our cast and crew member roles. We continue to do this voluntary work because we love to, and we know it’s educating the wider community about disability, and giving people with disabilities a chance to have a voice in the media. I volunteer on No Limits to make a difference to others through education, positive media, support, humour and fun. I want to help people manage and accept their own chronic illnesses and disabilities. I also want to influence the way people perceive disability and chronic illness. I may not be able to stamp out discrimination worldwide, but I may be able to make someone think twice about commenting on someone's appearance or ability, and instead, take the time to get to know them better. I hope season 11 reaches a wider audience of both people with and without disabilities. 

I am thankful for having this chronic illness. Often it’s a real hassle – it rudely interrupts my life and can be very painful. But it’s afforded me so many opportunities. And perhaps if I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t have the privilege to be a presenter on Australian television. I was once told that it is good that I am working and not locked away somewhere because of the way I looked. I only hope the woman who told me that happens to flick over and see me speaking on No Limits.