Shopping in Perth and surrounds is a bit of a joke.  The clothes shops are all clones of each other, churning out raggy skanky tacky stuff that I have absolutely no wish to buy and in general make me lose my will to live; certainly my will to go clothes shopping.   There is an exception of course;  the Armani et al sections in the David Jones Perth store, which of course are horrifically out of my reach monetarily speaking.  Siiiiigh.  I think it’s time to visit my dressmaker again …

As for shopping for make up and skin care, well that’s just as bad.  Every department store [of which there are two, yes the same two, in the city or suburban malls] has an identical “beauty floor” with the exact same brands – the big names, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Dior, Chanel, Clarins, blah blah blah. 

The smaller, more interesting brands have zero to minimal representation, maybe one counter at one department store, and only in the city.  As evidence, I give you MAC, my beloved make up line - which isn’t exactly a “small” brand - and my favourite skin care brand Ultraceuticals.  Both are available at just the one counter in just the one department store in the city, and this is sometimes problematic.  I can’t always make it into town, or want to make the trek, especially now I need a walking stick / elbow crutch for any distance. 

For me then, it’s obvious that online is the way to go.  In fact I pretty much do all my skin care and make up shopping online now.  Shopping online can be chancy however, and I’m ultra picky about the quality of service, the security of the site, the speed of delivery, the overall cost and so on.   I have come to trust and love only a chosen few – Adore Beauty; MAC Online; Strawberrynet and Smart Poppy.

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Adore Beauty

Adore Beauty stocks a massive range of make up, skin care, hair care, accessories, bath and body products, guy’s stuff, and fragrance.  I arrow in on Ultraceuticals, Napoleon Perdis, L’Occitane, Dr Hauschka, Bloom, and MOP [hair care].  As well as a few big names [Clarins, Laura Mercier] Adore stocks many interesting organic skin care lines such as Akin and Aesop plus cult lines like Ole Henriksen, SkinCeuticals, Alpha-H, and make up brands BECCA, Bare Escentuals, Mirenesse, Cargo … that’s just the start.

I appreciate Adore Beauty not only for it’s huge range of products and hard-to-find brands [well, hard to find in Western Australia], but for it’s excellent brand / product information, interesting articles, the fun informative forum and unbiased reviews, and no-bullshit content.  The web site has recently had a makeover of it’s own and is even better than before; easy to navigate whether on a search and destroy mission or “just browsing”.  It was Adore that introduced me to Ultraceuticals, this little-known, unprepossessing and simply sensational Aussie skin care line [and look at me now! A positively evangelical convert … but one with fabulous skin].

The service is terrific, confirmation and dispatch emails are sent swiftly, delivery is excellent and relatively inexpensive [about AUD 8.00 for registered post].  My precious packages have always arrived well within the specified time, with items wrapped prettily and boxed well, with a couple of free samples and sweeties hidden amongst the packing popcorn.  I’ve never experienced an order stuff-up or breakage but imagine that even if such a thing could happen A.B. would be on the case with a replacement or refund quicker than you can open a Burt’s Bees Lip Balm tin.

Too, too gorgeous, sweetie.

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MAC Australia

I am such a MAC whore.  Just about all my make up is MAC; except for mascara, a bunch of lip glosses and a few other “pieces” here and there, from foundation to eye shadow to make up brushes it’s all MAC.  I adore the brand;  the quality of products across the brand is exceptional and the pricing is pretty reasonable, especially compared with eg, Dior and Chanel, and it’s not much more expensive than many budget brands these days but the quality is a zillion times better.  Plus it’s such an interesting, fun and versatile brand.  There’s something for everyone there.

The site in general is very easy to navigate, it’s look very much in keeping with the MAC philosophy of letting the products do the talking, so it’s very clean and uncluttered looking.  The images of products are clear and accurate, as is the product information.   The swatches of colours on-site, from eye shadow to lip colour to foundation, are true to “real life” so it’s easy to get a good-to-perfect match. 

Service and delivery arepretty good; order confirmation / dispatch emails are sent quickly. I’ve always received my orders within the seven-day delivery period and they’ve always been well-packed, no breakages.  Shipping costs are pretty reasonable too, about AUD 10.00 for express, registered post. 

[NB:  Always insure and register your online shopping orders; it might add a few bucks onto the total but is worth it for peace of mind, the knowledge that the package will actually get to you, and accountability if you need to request a refund or whatever]

Yep, MAC Online is simply to die for, dearest …

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Strawberrynet

Strawberrynet [oh I know it’s really StrawberryNET but the emphasis annoys me; we all know it’s on THE NET, the url kind of gives it away, sheesh] is The Big Wahoonie of online beauty shopping sites, stocking skin care, cosmetics, fragrance, and hair care.  The range of brands is immense, and the discounts equally mind-boggling, ranging from 2% to 60%.  Them’s big savings.  The brands include all the big ones, and many small ones too so you won’t be stuck for choice.  There’s also additional incentive with extra 5% discount if you buy three or more products at a time, and incremental “loyalty discounts”; basically the more you shop the more the discount.

While I love browsing, my purchases have been mostly from the big names; Clarins, Dr Haushka, Lancôme, L’Occitane.  S’net also stocks many brands unavailable in Australia such as Smashbox, Shu Uemura and Fresh, although the range is quite small.

The site is well structured and easy to navigate; given the thousands of brands and products listed it could be easy to get lost but S’net is very well organised.  Product information and images can be hit-and-miss; some products / brands are described accurately [albeit verbatim from the official site] while others have no description at all.  There are no ingredients listings, so I usually check out the official sites or other beauty sites to get the information I need.   My favourite make up and beauty blogs are absolutely invaluable for providing unbiased info and reviews.   So do your research elsewhere then shop at S’net.

Service and delivery are great, although order confirmation / dispatch emails can be slow.  There are a range of shipping options, the best being FREE registered shipping.  This is pretty awesome.  Delivery is unbelievably fast, seeing as how one’s goodies are coming from Hong Kong – my orders have taken about five days maximum, with 4 – 10 being the official estimate.  There is also an express option if you are experiencing a skin care / make up or gift-related emergency that costs about AUD 10.00 and guarantees delivery in two to three days.

Luscious, darling.

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AND INTRODUCING . . . [cue fanfare and cascade of sparkly pink balloons]

Smart Poppy

I feel somewhat ashamed of myself that I’ve only recently discovered Smart Poppy.  It’s a really cute site with some amazing bargains, AND it’s Australian.   I like to support Australian businesses so even if, for example, Strawberrynet has the item I want, if it’s available at Smart Poppy that’s where I’ll shop.

Smart Poppy stocks MAC, NARS, some Smashbox mmm, Lancôme, Clinique, stila, Too Faced and others.  The range of brands and products is, admittedly, quite small especially when compared to the leviathan that is Strawberrynet, but is pretty comprehensive for all that, and it’s constantly updating and adding new goodies.  Serious beauty junkies will find plenty to squeal over at Smart Poppy [hint: they carry Smashbox’s cult Foundation Primer!], and there’s a range of products to suit everybody.

What’s really attractive [or addictive?] about Smart Poppy is the amazing deals.  F’r instance; NARS cult lip gloss Dolce Vita retails at Mecca Cosmetica for AUD 50.00, but is just over AUD 30.00 here!  You can bet that went in my shopping cart … Plus there are additional ongoing discounts and sales, samples and freebies.  There are a number of hard to find, cult MAC products here too – and you know how I love my MAC! 

The site is very pretty, uncluttered, easily navigated, and with excellent product information and description.  The swatches and photos of cosmetic products are impressive; the images depict the colour / texture of the product totally true-to-life, and in many cases are not just the image off the official site [as with, eg, Strawberrynet] so you get a really, really accurate idea of the shade.

Service is good, with immediate email replies and dispatch information.  Shipping costs are even less expensive than MAC and Adore Beauty, about AUD 6.00 for registered express post for a small package.  Delivery itself was right within expected time, so I was very happy with my first order.  The package was well-packed, and included a couple of very nice samples, an additional coupon toward my next order, and some sweeties [which Tux enjoyed very much].  All in all, exceptional value and added incentive to order again … not that I needed incentive.

Simply beautiful, petals.

It’s strange; when we moved into our new place I figured I’d be living in the kitchen, cooking up huge interesting meals.  What with the great high-powered gas cook-top [with wok burner wahey], plenty of useable bench space for prep work and actual room to move – even enough room for two people to move without gaining intimate carnal knowledge of one another whether wanted to or not – I was sure I’d be all over it.

Then during April–May I had that weird phase of total lack of interest in food, and lack of appetite.  This is actually quite rare for me, as even when I’m so ill and drugged up I can’t see straight let alone not be a hazard around aforementioned high-powered gas cook top, I still have an interest in food and will read my favourite cookbooks like novels, drooling away and writing up endless lists of must-try recipes and menus.

So April-May were kind of unexciting food-wise.  We had some yummy dinners, but of the basic bought-chook-and-salad and grilled-steak-and-rosemary-garlic-potatoes variety; they were only yummy because the produce and cooking technique were good.  Tuxedo should get a special mention here; he may not cook often or have a large repertoire but he is the master of the Le Creuset cast iron grill pan and barbecue – his steaks and lamb chops are heaven. 

I’ve got a bit more with it in June-July; discovering The Secret to fried rice was a revelation of course, and I’ve done a few soups, curries and roast dinners which have redeemed me somewhat [we will NOT discuss the three Coeliac attacks in one week … however let it be noted that I most definitely *know* that Massive Supermarket Chain’s mince is not 100% beef].  So I’m baaack, planning and drooling and scribbling notes to myself, even pinning them to the fridge in the hopes of inspiration on those “what-the-fuck am I going to cook for dinner tonight” moments.

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Prior to the no-food phase, I was list-making and drooling with a vengeance over a number of fantastic food blogs [flogs? Fo’ blo’s?] and my current favourite cookbooks [and I apologise if I‘ve mentioned these before but they bear repeating]; Secrets of the Red Lantern by Pauline Nguyen; Authentic Tastes Of South East Asia by Celine and Angus Carnegie, and Cradle Of Flavor by James Oseland [and yes it hurts to type “flavor” not “flavour” aaiiieeee].   Mai Pham’s Pleasures Of The Vietnamese Table is another firm favourite, and while I have yet to get my hands on a copy of Andrea Nguyen’s Into The Vietnamese Kitchen there will be action when I do, it looks and sounds heaven.

I have added two new favourite food blogs - Steamy Kitchen and Wandering Chopsticks – to the Links at right.   I feel quite ashamed I’ve only *just* discovered them.  Hey. You!  Yes you.  Why didn’t you tell me?  Both are gorgeous, wonderful, delicious sites – really great food, clear workable recipes  [and writing a clear workable recipe is damn difficult], and great photography.   I especially love Steamy Kitchen’s writing style and food photography – it’s all so clear and simple and mouth-watering, and ACCURATE.  You can see how following that recipe will result in that food.  That’s unusual, and heartening, and very, very tempting.  [And of course there’s that whole Fried Rice Breakthrough thing.]

If I can get to the point, here’s what I’ve been craving, recipes for which will hopefully show up soon.  Now you all know me, it simply wouldn’t be *me* if there weren’t a heap of soups, noodles and noodle-y soups in there.

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Vietnamese:-

o         Pho Ga  [chicken rice noodle soup]

o         Nem Nuong  [grilled pork meatballs on skewers with rice paper, herbs et al]

o         Goi Ga and Goi Thom Thit  [chicken salad;  pork, prawn and cabbage salad]

o         Canh Chua Ca  [hot and sour fish / seafood soup]

o         Bo Luc Lac  [“Shaking” beef salad]

o         various Kho  [braised prawns / pork / chicken in caramel sauce]

o         Bun Cha  [char-grilled sliced pork and patties on rice noodles with nuoc cham, herbs et al]

South-East Asian:-

o         Kway Teow Nam Tom Yum  [Thai hot and sour combination noodle soup]

o         Char Kway Teow  [Malaysian fried fresh rice noodles with prawns and Chinese sausage]

o         Prawn Mee  [Malaysian prawn and pork noodle soup]

o         Ayam Panggang Sulawesi  [Indonesian grilled chicken with spice paste and coconut milk marinade]

o         Soto Ayam  [Indonesian chicken soup]

o         Nasi Goreng  [Indonesian fried rice]

o         Hainanese Chicken Rice  [steamed ginger-infused chicken on rice cooked in chicken stock with dipping sauces … a classic]

o         Lamb Biriani  [Indian layered lamb curry and pilau rice]

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Etcetera, etcetera … Well at least I’m not lost for ideas; it’s the implementation that might be a problem.  But doesn’t it sound good?

I recently changed to a more “advanced” group for my riding lesson.   It’s at 0900 hrs as opposed to 1300 hrs, and as the trip out is twenty minutes or so, and I need to be there at least forty-five minutes prior to the lesson to groom and tack up my own horse and maybe help out with another one or two, it means an early start.   I’m not at my best in the mornings, either, far more stiff and pain-y so I’ve taken to getting up even earlier – say 0600 – to fit cin a boiling hot shower and do some stretchies to get most of the creakiness out [and time for the morning dose of painkillers et al to kick in].

You may well ask, how “advanced” is advanced?   Well, not very, not exactly Grand Prix level!   Not at all, in fact … It means the class is made up of independent riders [ie, riders who don’t require leaders or side-walkers] who have ridden for a while and have a certain skill level, and can be challenged a bit further.   We do dressage-y stuff, lots of 10- and 20- metre circles, changing rein, serpentines, mostly at the trot so far. 

And gee, does our coach work us hard.   I love this, that even though we’re disabled riders with our personal challenges and limitations, physical and otherwise, we’re not let off the hook when it comes to correct position and riding style.   We’re made to really work at our back and leg positions, and in my case, given my sway back and core strength issues – “tilt your pelvis forward and suck in your gut tuck in your tummy!” ad infinitum.

There are three to four in the class – including me – which is a great number because we can space out around the arena and trot together as a ride and do our own 10 metre circles or whatever the coach calls.  “Ride … prepare to trot … and TROT” is grand fun as we can get a really fast yet collected trot going without running over the horse ahead of us, there being a third of the arena between us all.  At least, that’s the theory …

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All my lessons lately have been on my naughty Connemara cross, L.  He’s recently been changed into a new bit, a roller bit [which is like a pacifier, a dummy for horses] and he loves it.  It’s made a big difference but he’s still a bit spooky and very zippy.  His main problem is he needs more work with riders who challenge him and themselves with lots of different moves and speeds beyond being led around an arena.

I just love having access to a pony who wants to GO-GO-GO-GO-GO rather than exhausting myself getting a horse moving out of a feet-dragging walk.  It’s much more of a challenge for me and my strength increases weekly with holding him in and sitting deep to keep him slowed, balanced and relaxed.

A lot of my lesson is focused around working on riding with my body rather than just hands.  So in circling and changing diagonal my body – legs, torso, head - are curving and looking in the direction the pony is going.  This gets both of us nicely rounded and flexible.  

Some of the exercises are torture!  One of Sue’s latest favourites – and she’s targeting me in this one – is to have us go round in a 20-metre circle at a walk, with the reins knotted on the horses’ necks, whilst standing upright in the stirrups, guiding the horse with legs while trying to maintain balance.  This is hard work for me, as it involves hardening and strengthening the pelvic core and from there, up and out, strengthening and balancing the entire body. 

Apart from my aching lower abs and diaphragm, this sort of exercise also is a major challenge to proprioception, and works that mind-body feedback.  [And I need to work on it with the fitball at home . . . Ows.]

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I had real proof the other week that my strength and seat in the saddle has improved when I cantered without stirrups!  It wasn’t intentional mind you … We were trotting down the long side when L spooked at a bunch of school kids running [and screaming] in the park adjoining the centre.  It was enough to scare me!  Anyways L spooked, half rearing and leaping into the centre of the arena – which is when I lost stirrups – then broke into a mad canter, veered back to the outside with his nose in the air and eyes rolling.

But I stayed on wahey!  Even when I was riding regularly, twenty years ago, that sort of thing probably would have had me off as I had seriously crap balance and physically was much less stronger than I am now.  I also would have panicked and just dropped off in defeat.  Not this time … I sat deep in the saddle, kept my legs still against his sides, hands down, inside rein turning him into a circle and whoooaaaaa’d him in a low calm voice.  And he dropped his head, slowed and let me bring him to a halt. 

Silly boy shouldn’t have spooked at all – but hey I stayed on!  I was so proud of us both and so was Sue; for one, he had listened to me [apparently his listening skills aren’t too good] and that I had sat deep and stayed in control.  Yay! 

I’ve also had a few more on-purpose canters, and I just love it!  Sitting deep and body swinging along with the horse in waltz rhythm, heaven.  L transitions straight into a canter [and doesn’t want to stop] so I gather he enjoys a bit of speed too.  Another thing we’ve been working on is slowing and extending his fast pony trot, practicing collection and last week a new trick, slowing the rate of my posting.  I didn’t see how this would work, I thought I’d just be thumped around out of rhythm, but it really does work, how about that.

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I think this pony and I have a special relationship; it’s a real thing not just in my girly over-imaginative head.  Maybe part of the reason we get on so well is because we “talk” and listen to each other, have fun together, and also challenge each other.  I sweet-talk him and sing to him and he responds so positively.

He’s so funny in that when I first go into his stall to start grooming and tacking up he’s all head-tosses and pinned ears, like he is with everyone, but after about ten minutes of my silly chatter and lots of strokes and scritches he calms down and gets quite goofy – all soft-eyed and cute and affectionate.  He even lets me pick up his feet and has stopped raising his head higher and higher when I put his bridle on; other things he tries on with everyone.  When I untack and groom him post-lesson he half-shuts his eyes and lets his ears flop sideways. 

Even Sue and a few others at the centre have remarked on how well he behaves for me, on the ground and whilst riding, which is beyond cool.  Maybe there’s something about me and narky Irish blokes?

And guess what!  We’ll be spending more time together next term [the centre also takes a break during school holidays] as Sue has said I can now ride twice a week!  You can imagine the look of glee on my face when she asked if I’d be interested in more riding;  she said that as I’m doing so well and getting so much out of it, and also L needs more work, that it would be possible to put me in a second lesson.  So I’ll be riding in my former group [Tuesday afternoons] which is fine as we’ll work separately, as well as the Thursday morning lesson.  Hurrah!

Celebrations are called for – lashing of ginger beer anyone?  [well … maybe vodka tonics]

You may have got the impression, even if you’re an occasional visitor here, that Otterkat and her mother do not get on too well.  I’d love to have a nice, relaxed, easy, sharing relationship with my mum, but I don’t.   The hardest part is that she’s still my mum, I still love her, but sometimes I just want to … not be around her.

She can be incredibly nice and caring, although she lacks a sense of humour and proportion sometimes [Tux says: like, always?].  But she’s also a very dominating personality – in my dramatic moments I’d say she was a domineering bullying old bitch – and unfortunately she expresses that side of her personality mostly with me. 

I’ve tried hard to think why this is – I’m the youngest child, only daughter, “the sick one”, her “baby”.  She continuously infantilises me and my abilities … So okay, I’m easy to bully, therefore she does so.

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It really is one damn thing after another with her.  The cumulative effect of constant nagging, put-downs, criticism masked as “helping”, extremely conditional offers of help [ie her terms only], picking fights, unbelievable negativity about everybody and everything, not just me; she doesn’t have a nice thing to say about anyone, Catholic upbringing maybe? - is that I end up in emotional overload with my head spinning, totally crashed.

I never know where I am with her, either.  Occasionally we’ll be having a nice relaxed interaction then out of nowhere, then apropos of absolutely nothing, she’ll lob in an emotionally hurtful [and usually pretty brutal] remark.  It always comes as a shock and still sends me reeling, though miscellaneous pagan gods know I should be used to it, immune to it by now.

On her “usual” days [ie domineering bullying bitch days], when she’s trying to stir up shit and I am trying my hardest to resist and remain calm and rational – which she reads as antagonistic and rude, somehow, I guess because I’m not bending to her will - I find it emotionally exhausting, and come in from such an encounter in dire need of a triple vodka tonic [with a dribble of tonic]

. . . . . . . . . .

I am unable to confide or share events/information as every “thing” becomes an issue or argument – right down to who pushes the shopping trolley or takes the shopping bags or unloads the boot.  It’s why I’ve never been able to tell her the deep personal stuff that was going on in my life – not since I was about 13 anyway, when I finally figured out it wasn’t worth it [yes I know, I’m fucking slow on the uptake, please don’t rub it in!].  I didn’t tell her about the bullying and bashings in high school; about teachers who looked the other way; about boys I was keen on who teased me; later still when I was “seeing” boys and having absolutely lovely times – or not – I couldn’t tell her about it or seek counsel.  Isn’t that what mums are for?

I’ve related a particular incident here before – how I didn’t tell her about Tuxedo and me getting together and we just sprang the engagement on the family in a major fait accompli, because a month or so before he came out to meet the family I tried to tell her about this guy who was coming to visit, how much I liked him, that it might be serious etc … She interrupted with a “don’t get your hopes up, he’ll just dump you like all the rest”.  Even given she had no idea about 99% of “the rest”, or that the dumpage had been pretty much 50/50, this was a stiletto-to-the-heart comment.   Understand this, I get that kind of response to everything, all the time. It wasn’t a one-off.

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No matter how hard I try I can’t shrug this off; it keeps affecting me and is just as bad the zillionth time as the first, the put-downs, domination and intense power struggle that I must bend to her absolute will.  What do I do?  I’ve tried talking to other members of my family about it for help/mediation/intervention; they’re blokes and don’t “get” the dynamic, also they are not present when she behaves this way.  I try simply not giving a shit;  I can’t do that either, so it never stops hurting.

Of course the obvious would be to talk to her about it; but I think I’ve made it clear that she won’t engage in discussion.  There’s no such thing as discussion in fact; it’s full-blown argument.  The best I can do – and it’s not the greatest solution and doesn’t fix anything – is to accept that it is her problem, not mine.  I can’t change her, I can’t fight her, the most I can do is avoid conflict.

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It may interest you to know that psychs/cognitive therapists I’ve spoken to in the past, about my mum and our relationship, who have also met her in person, believe she is my main problem in life – far above connective tissue and auto-immune diseases – and that I should cease contact.  Isn’t that kind of heavy, ceasing contact with one’s own mother?  But I guess it comes under the heading of abusive non-nurturing behaviour, and there’s only one answer to that, that’s hit the road, jack.  And no way can I do that.  Sigh ….

So what kind of relationship do you have with your mum/parents?  Have you had bad patches and got through them?  Or are they non-negotiable like mine?  How do you cope when you’re nearly forty and your mum treats you like an intellectually disabled five year old, incapable of making any decision, having any thought of her/his own?  I’d be interested to hear … although I realise this is pretty damn personal, downright raw stuff here.  I just had to get it out, blogging being the emotional/mental version of Ipecac and all …

Whilst I have previously posted a generalised recipe for Combination Fried Rice, I am forced to admit that I have never, ever been one hundred percent – or even eighty five percent – satisfied with my fried rice.  Oh it tasted yummy enough but it was inclined to be sort of mooshy, and didn’t have the interesting balance of flavours that I’ve found in really great restaurant fried rice.

Some of my lack in the fried rice department was put down to my zero MSG tolerance policy; but I was pretty sure I was missing something, all the same.  Then the clouds opened, and heavenly golden light poured into my grey mooshy fried rice world, because lo! I discovered Jaden of Steamy Kitchen.  Quite how and why I hadn’t found her before is beyond me; all the food blogs I read and I missed this truly amazing one?

Jaden solved my fried rice dilemma with not just great recipes but a terrific comprehensive methodology and step-by-step instruction of the components of what makes a Great Fried Rice.  Go check out Jaden for yourself, but I’ll repeat her key teachings here, and a general recipe.

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There are three key components to a Great Fried Rice, outlined by Jaden:-

1.  The Rice

This is what I have gotten wrong, and why my attempts have been so misguided.  The rice has to be cooked prior to wokking and rolling, but I have always spooned my rice direct from rice cooker to wok. No no no, and again NO.  It has to be cold cooked rice.  Start the rice some hours or even the night before, and when your rice cooker pings, scoop it gently onto a baking tray that has been slightly oiled – I use canola oil but any vegetable oil would do.  Don’t squish the rice around, but allow the tray of rice to cool on the counter-top, into clumps, and when cool break the lumps down a little more.  Then pop the tray of rice into the fridge for a few hours to get thoroughly cold. 

When comes time to fry your rice, the rice will be beautifully separated and intact individual grains – no moosh.  And when frying, be ultra careful with your wok chan or chosen utensil to not squish the grains, but gently lift and turn to combine all other ingredients.

2.  Fish Sauce

Use the best Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce you can find / afford – the paler it is the better.  Go to an Asian food store [eg Kongs franchise in Perth] and ask the counter-staff.

3.  Lap cheong aka preserved Chinese sausage, although in the absence of close proximity to an Asian food store I have taken the liberty of substituting char siew / even bacon – some fatty pork product anyway!

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And now … see recipe below.  And once again my many, many thanks to Jaden of Steamy Kitchenwho has changed our lives forever!  [we’ve had The Great Fried Rice several times in the last month – Tuxedo has requested it specifically too].

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NB:  I’ve added a new page, being the Recipe Index for this bloggy thing, with linky-links so you don’t have to trawl through all the recipes archive to find what you’re after.   It’s underneath “About Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome” over to the right, top of the page.