The World According To Me

So me and the boy, lets call him….ummmm….Pom have made the move and have signed a lease together on a relatively dilapidated but utterly 'charming' 3 bedroom red-brick abode with luscious gardens and one power-point in each room. We have also opened a joint account for the purposes of rent and bill payments, into which we plan to deposit equal amounts from our respective salaries and keep the utilities companies, the supermarkets and our real estate agent happy. Tonight I will have my beloved poochie back with me, to complete the double-income-no-kids (but a dog) scenario.

This has all come about very quickly, admittedly. Mum moving off the farm necessitated the return of Lucy, which meant I had to find somewhere else to live anyway. Pom needed to find somewhere permanent to reside in the Goulburn Valley area and thus the planets aligned and whoompah - I'm a co-tenant with a new dinner set.

I've cohabited with a boyfriend before, a few moons ago, and it was a complete fucking disaster, so I can't pretend I wasn't/aren't apprehensive. I'm well aware that moving in together can fuck up what seems like a perfectly good relationship quicksmart. However, being a little older and slightly wiser (not much of the latter, admittedly) I decided to take the approach that if we can't live together after 3 months, how are we supposed to live together after 12? 24? 5 years? Bugger this waiting until the 'right time'….if it's right, it'll be okay. If it's not, well at least I've found out sooner rather than later.

However being a professional house-sharer for many years, I have failed to collect any items which may be deemed useful for now having my own house. And Pom? Well Pom arrived in the country with his life packed into 3 duffle bags. Consequently we have no television, dining table or lounge suite. I have managed to beg borrow and steal buy a sofa so we've got somewhere to sit, a fridge so we can keep the beer cold and a washing machine which I am pretty sure was made before I was. It runs rougher than a Datsun 120Y but it's managing to wash clothes, 2 shirts at a time. I feel like a St Vinnies bin at the moment to be honest, but thanks to some wonderful giving people I'm procuring items of usefulness. Tonight I'm being lent a tele so I don’t have to hum along to my tinny clock-radio for entertainment anymore. Thank fuck.

Anyway, I believe we are having a housewarming/Australia Day party next week and you're all invited. Just be sure to bring your own chair.

Take 1kg of butternut pumpkin, peel and de-seed and cut into 2cm cubes. Roast in a single layer on oven trays at about 160ºC for an hour with a little olive oil drizzled over the top. Turn occasionally.

Add 375g of Rigatoni pasta to boiling salted water, until al dente.

While this is happening, heat a large non-stick frypan to medium heat and crisp 12 thin slices of prosciutto - a minute on each side should do it. Roughly chop the prosciutto when crisped and set aside.

In the same pan, brown 100g of pine nuts - this only takes a minute and they burn easily so be careful. When done, set aside.

Finely slice 6 spring onions, and saute them in the pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a teaspoon of minced garlic. When the onions are soft, add the pasta, pine nuts, prosciutto and pumpkin together with ½ a cup of chicken stock. Lightly mix the ingredients (the pumpkin can get a bit soft, so be gentle). Bring to the boil.

Turn the heat down slightly so it is still simmering, then add 250ml of thin cream and ¼ cup shredded fresh basil. Again, gently mix to the stock and the cream combine to lightly coat the pasta and other ingredients.

Spoon into bowls, top with fresh shaved parmesan and wait for the proposals to roll in.

I wish I had taken a photo.

This time of year quite often renders me hungover, exhausted, broke and grumpy. It also, sometimes, promotes deep contemplation about my life, my family, my friends, and my future. Usually when I'm pissed, but I digress….

2005 was been, on the whole, a pretty good year for yours truly. A review (in no particular order, but in dot points - YAY!) -

• I gave up custody of my dog, to my mother. Many tears, much guilt, but for the first time in almost 5 years I have been able to go away for weekends and not either have to take Lucy with me or cut my time away short to come home and feed her. I still miss her though.

• I have made some brilliant new mates who I hope will remain in my life for a very long time. Clever, witty people with much to offer by way of friendship and wisdom. I love them all and hope I can enrich their lives as they have mine.

• I took control of my work situation, took a mighty gamble and came out on top.

• I have become much more resolute on how I deal with people in my life. Not easy, but necessary.

• I have attempted to stop doubting myself, my decisions and my abilities. I am a much stronger person than I ever thought.

• I moved house yet again. A huge environment change, but one which I feel is a positive step. This time there's no chance of messing about with my housemate.

• I got supremely head-fucked by a bloke. It is only recently that I have stopped being angry with myself and started feeling sorry for him for being such a sick and twisted man. In the interests of karma, I really hope he gets better.

• I met another bloke who makes me so happy I can scarcely believe it. He has already given me so much that I feel like I'm shining from the inside. I think they call it a glow. I'm very much looking forward to the future with him.

• I discovered the game of netball again, and won my first trophy since my childhood.

• I have continued to enjoy my life not being encumbered by an extra few kilo's of boosie. Have also continued to enjoy buying and wearing strapless garments to demonstrate my amazing perkiness.

• My mother and step-father finally went their separate ways. I wish her all the happiness that a long overdue free-spirited state can bring. I wish him the rule of three (for those not in the witchy-know, as I obviously am, the basic premise is that what you give out you get back thrice in return. i.e he's in deep deep shit).

And, despite resolving to never again make New Years Resolutions (first one broken already), I hope that 2006;

• Brings happiness, wealth and health to my loved ones (and myself of course).
• All that other usual shit about giving up smoking, getting fit etc.