Posts Tagged ‘Friends’

I found this in my pocket the other day, not certain where it came from  but I think I should thank Claire.

It beats punishment

Hope everyone had great Christmas and New Year celebrations and got loads of cool stuff from Santa, family and friends.

I focused on health related gifts and received the Jane Kennedy cookbook “Fabulous Food minus the boombah”, the CSIRO total wellbing diet and an hilarious but confronting book “Skinny Bastard”, more on the latter soon.

I used some gift vouchers to get myself some kitchen bit and pieces during the Boxing Day sales and picked up a Food Processor, Slow Cooker and a big Casserole dish.

So the kitchen has the missing pieces, now to start cooking more and experimenting with different dishes and make 2010 a relative culinary delight. I have been able to get my son to start eating some different foods which will make it easier to experimenting with a wide range of tastes myself.

I need to ramp up the ‘Cooking with Al’ series, so all who have either shown interest, made a promise or have something to share, I’ll be calling upon you over the coming months to make it happen (you listening Richard?).

I’m knocking off for a couple of weeks holiday, not sure if I’ll be posting much while I’m gone as the only place with free wi-fi is McDonalds .. good marketing – bastards!

I still haven’t decided on New Year resolutions, or targets for the year but I’ll work that out over the coming weeks.

I’ve finally got around to editing the cooking lesson that Nick K gave me, showing me how to prepare and cook Chicken Cacciatore.

I worked a treat and is on the lunchtime rotation.

Ingredients;

• 8 skinless chicken thigh fillets
• 2 cans of diced tomatoes
• 2 onions
• 4 cloves of garlic
• Small amount of oil
• Small tub of kalamata olives
• Small bunch fresh basil
• Dried oregano
• 2 stock cubes (chicken is the preference but it won’t really matter).
• Whatever vegetables you like to eat on the side…

A few problems with lighting and camerawork, hopefully it adds to the charm

Chicken Cacciatore

Nick K came over and showed me how to cook an Italian classic, Chicken Cacciatore and I have finally got around to editing and posting it.

Here’s the recipe ingrediants.

8 skinless chicken thigh fillets
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 onions
4 cloves of garlic
Small amount of oil
Small tub of kalamata olives
Small bunch fresh basil
Dried oregano
2 stock cubes (chicken is the preference but it won’t really matter).
Whatever vegetables you like to eat on the side…

Only a couple of days to go and we have raised $5,209 and of course I expect a bit more to flow through over the coming days, if you haven’t sponsored me yet, please join in and support my efforts.

Thanks to the new sponsors Mum and Dad, Sandra, cousin Stuart, Mark, Irving and Madge & Ian – I really appreciate it.

So here’s the updated list, finally;

• Julie Long    $2 per kilo
• Mark & Marlene Fry     $1 per kilo
• Peter Applebaum    $5 per kilo
• Heather Albrecht    $100 donation
• Annie Sargood    $1 per kilo
• Peter Burley    $1 per kilo
• Larry Clark    $3 per kilo
• David Hamilton    $100 donation
• Chris Gray    $10 per kilo
• James Manolios    $1 per kilo
• Alan Long    $2 per kilo
• Marcus Lovett    $5 per kilo
• Martyn Thomas    $1 per kilo
• Jill Hennessy $3 per kilo
• Elizabeth Hoyle $1 per kilo
• Mark  Peaker $150 donation
• Amanda Daniel    $1 per kilo
• Leigh Oneill    $1 per kilo
• Declan Long    $1 per kilo
• Rob Manning    $2 per kilo
• David Chinn    $25 donation
• Craig Reardon    $1 per kilo
• Nik Kontoulas    $2 per kilo
• Simon Herd     $25 donation
• Clare Crawford   $0.50 per kilo
• Ben Cornwall    $2 per kilo
• Dani Carey    $100 donation
• Tony Hardy    $3 per kilo
• Jacqui Pinge    $1 per kilo
• Sam Stark   $1 per kilo
• Harley Giles $50 donation
• Gavin Appel  $100 donation
• Jamie Crick  $0.50 per kilo
• Rheika Tompkins    $50 donation
• Geoff and Sandra Denman    $1 per kilo
• Sue    Parker     $100 donation
• Leon DePettri    $2 per kilo
• Joy Joyous    $2 per kilo
• Dominik Gluchowski         $1 per kilo
• Sone Chen     $3 per kilo
• Andrew Aitken        $20 donation
• Jodie Fletchere    $10 donation
• Vanessa Yemm    $10 donation
• Matthew Michalowski    $100 donation
• Cheyne Winterton    $50 donation
• Jamie Mackintosh    $20    donation
• Che Carbis     $50 donation
• Jay Radici     $30     donation
• Michael Walmsley     $70     donation
• Kerry Fisher    $50 donation
• Neil Spark    $1 per kilo
• Kevin Hayes    $20 donation
• Juan Esteban Monsalve Tobon     $1 per kilo
• Lee-Anne Bishop      $20 donation
• Marc Johnson    $5 per kilo
• Claire Austin    $1 per kilo
• Verna & Brian Long $200 donation
• Sandra hanchard $2 per kilo
• Stuart Macintosh $1 per kilo
• Mark Whichelow $50 donation
• Irving Lewis $20 donation
• Madge and Ian Pinge  $1 per kilo

Thanks to everyone for your support, it’s awesome and inspiring.

Not one of my brothers yet though .. interesting! (Is that enough public shaming?)

Last week I caught up with two mates that I went to Uni with 30 years ago. We all lived in the same area and so tended to do group assignments together and when we left Uni the three of us got the plum jobs in Melbourne (Clemengers, Masius and George Pattersons).

All three of us have had some great successes, have been best men for others weddings and have even worked together. Tuesday night was the first time in probably 20 years (maybe more) that the three of us got together. And so the theme of reconnection continues.

Three years ago one of the guys had a serious heart attack, and I mean serious it, ended in a quad bypass and he is lucky to be with us and his family today.

He had been at the Rolling Stones concert in the evening and woke up with chest pain around 5am. Like all of us males we self diagnose and the answer was some ENO, and then a run to the chemist for some Mylanta. Still the pain didn’t ease.

He organised for his wife to drop him at the office, as he had left his car there the night before as he was going to have a few prior to the concert. By the time they left for work he still hadn’t been able to shake the pain, and on the way the pain increased to the point where they decided to go to the hospital to check it out. On the trip he couldn’t sit still and he lost feeling in his left arm, (but of course he didn’t tell his wife that part), so they arrived across town at St.Vincents in Paddington and she waved goodbye to him, not realising just how serious a situation he was in and what was about to unfold.

As he walked into the hospital he knew how much trouble he was in, or maybe feared for the worst because he knew the deadening of the arm was a bad sign. Upon speaking to the triage nurse he was trolleyed and quickly the hospital swung into action gathering the finest surgery team.

And so he underwent open heart surgery and a bypass on all 4 valves and thankfully woke up afterwards.

The cigarettes went, other things he shouldn’t have been doing went, the beer stayed, but most importantly an exercise regime kicked in and healthy eating was a priority (although I had always considered him to eat pretty well).

He was not a big guy, didn’t carry that much extra weight, but he had trashed himself pretty hard for close on 20 years or more, and with a family history of heart disease it probably wasn’t the smartest of lifestyle choices, but damn he was good at it!

When I heard a day or two later,  I feared for him, but once the crisis had passed  it didn’t have any affect on me, in terms of my own lifestyle choices. I didn’t kick into action and correct my things, instead I rationalised it that he had thrashed himself harder than I ever could and each time I got myself checked out all my bloods etc were good so I had nothing to worry about.

Can you believe that, one of your mates has a quadrupole bypass and it doesn’t put a worry in your own mind that the same could happen, even though I would have been close to twice his weight .. what the hell was I thinking .. hmm, denial maybe?

I am just so glad he is still around for his family and friends, and that on Tuesday night the three of us had the chance to sit down and talk for a few hours, that was the highlight of my week.

Mate, thanks or letting me tell the story.

Well no I can’t!

This evening I had dinner with a former colleague and his ‘Love Partner’, having spoken a little on the phone and communicated via Facebook etc over the past 7 years it was great to see him face to face again. Shame Susan’s voice was lost, but Pete and I covered lots of ground. Always an interesting, challenging and interesting conversation.

The one thing that constantly amazes me is that other people see in me what I don’t see .. need to fix that up!

I ate well, bought dry roasted almonds instead of resorting to a chocolate bar, and ordered grilled fish with vegetables for dinner – tasty and healthy. Now to get on the bike while the washing gets done.

First day for quite a while where I have behaved with food for the entire day, so let’s call today Day 1 and make it all fresh and new again. Food – omelette for breakfast, curry with no rice for lunch and barramundi and vegies for dinner, followed by a little low carb chocolate. Drank loads of water and as a result am going to bathroom quite a bit, every ounce out is a good thing.

Over the past few weeks donations and sponsorship has increased dramatically, to the point where we have broken through the $5,000 mark based on the 40.5 kilos I’ve lost so far, and possibly getting over $6,500 if I reach the full 60 kilos.

I’d love to get to double that figure and with just under 12 weeks to go hopefully we can get enough support to get there and beyond. When I set out I had hoped that we’d at least get to $5,000 so I am very grateful for all the support that has made this happen so quickly.

But still a long way to go, so if you haven’t sponsored me yet, click on the Support Alan tab on the menu.

Thanks to my new sponsors – Lee-Anne, Marc and Claire.

Thank you for your support, please spread the word to your contacts, let see just how far we take this from my small network and really raise some serious funds for Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute.

• Julie Long    $2 per kilo
• Mark & Marlene Fry     $1 per kilo
• Peter Applebaum    $5 per kilo
• Heather Albrecht    $100 donation
• Annie Sargood    $1 per kilo
• Peter Burley    $1 per kilo
• Larry Clark    $3 per kilo
• David Hamilton    $100 donation
• Chris Gray    $10 per kilo
• James Manolios    $1 per kilo
• Alan Long    $2 per kilo
• Marcus Lovett    $5 per kilo
• Martyn Thomas    $1 per kilo
• Jill Hennessy $3 per kilo
• Elizabeth Hoyle $1 per kilo
• Mark  Peaker $150 donation
• Amanda Daniel    $1 per kilo
• Leigh Oneill    $1 per kilo
• Declan Long    $1 per kilo
• Rob Manning    $2 per kilo
• David Chinn    $25 donation
• Craig Reardon    $1 per kilo
• Nik Kontoulas    $2 per kilo
• Simon Herd     $25 donation
• Clare Crawford   $0.50 per kilo
• Ben Cornwall    $2 per kilo
• Dani Carey    $100 donation
• Tony Hardy    $3 per kilo
• Jacqui Pinge    $1 per kilo
• Sam Stark   $1 per kilo
• Harley Giles $50 donation
• Gavin Appel  $100 donation
• Jamie Crick  $0.50 per kilo
• Rheika Tompkins    $50 donation
• Geoff and Sandra Denman    $1 per kilo
• Sue    Parker     $100 donation
• Leon DePettri    $2 per kilo
• Joy Joyous    $2 per kilo
• Dominik Gluchowski         $1 per kilo
• Sone Chen     $3 per kilo
• Andrew Aitken        $20 donation
• Jodie Fletchere    $10 donation
• Vanessa Yemm    $10 donation
• Matthew Michalowski    $100 donation
• Cheyne Winterton    $50 donation
• Jamie Mackintosh    $20    donation
• Che Carbis     $50 donation
• Jay Radici     $30     donation
• Michael Walmsley     $70     donation
• Kerry Fisher    $50 donation
• Neil Spark    $1 per kilo
• Kevin Hayes    $20 donation
• Juan Esteban Monsalve Tobon     $1 per kilo
• Lee-Anne Bishop      $20 donation
• Marc Johnson    $5 per kilo
• Claire Austin    $1 per kilo

So far based on my weight loss of 40.5 kilos we have raised $5,080.50 (up from $4,418.80) and we add another $81.00 for every additional kilo lost, up $13 per kilo from last update. Hopefully it will continue to grow towards the $10,000 mark by the end of November, so spread the word. On the basis of losing 60 kilos we currently raise $6,660, or $5,850 for a 50 kilo loss for Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute.

Thanks to everyone for your support, it’s awesome.

Have sponsored me yet, come on and head to the Support Alan page and join in.

Now that I am finally starting to be more public about the Saving Alan project and sending notes to friends and family asking for their support, I thought it was important to acknowledge everyone who has committed to sponsor me. As I said last week it ranges from friends, family and remarkably to those I haven’t even met.

Thank you for your support, please spread the word to your contacts, let see just how far we take this from my small network and really raise some serious funds for Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute.

• Julie Long    $2 per kilo
• Mark & Marlene Fry     $1 per kilo
• Peter Applebaum    $5 per kilo
• Heather Albrecht    $100 donation
• Annie Sargood    $1 per kilo
• Peter Burley    $1 per kilo
• Larry Clark    $3 per kilo
• David Hamilton    $100 donation
• Chris Gray    $10 per kilo
• James Manolios    $1 per kilo
• Alan Long    $2 per kilo
• Marcus Lovett    $5 per kilo
• Martyn Thomas    $1 per kilo
• Jill Hennessy $3 per kilo
• Elizabeth Hoyle $1 per kilo
• Mark  Peaker $150 donation
• Amanda Daniel    $1 per kilo
• Leigh Oneill    $1 per kilo
• Declan Long    $1 per kilo
• Rob Manning    $2 per kilo
• David Chinn    $25 donation
• Craig Reardon    $1 per kilo
• Nik Kontoulas    $2 per kilo
• Simon Herd     $25 donation

So far based on my weight loss of 30 kilos we have raised $1,720 and we add another $44 for every additional kilo lost, hopefully we can get that up substantially over the next few weeks with the balance of my network and a bit of other help.

Thanks to all my new sponsors – Marcus, Martyn, Jill (comrade), Liz, Leigh, David, Rob, Craig and Nik and a special thanks to Mark Peaker and Amanda Daniel who don’t even know me.

And thanks to my foundations sponsor big sis’ Julie and the first wave – Mars & Mark, Heather, Peter, Chris, Annie, Pete, Lazlo, David, Chris, James and Simon.

Finally the fifth installment of Cooking with Al. I had filmed this before but had battery and tape problems at the time, so here is my favourite breakfast dish – Spinach, Mushroom and Cheese Omelette. It’s a good start to the day, easy to whip up inside 10 minutes and normally a lot more attractive that this how this ended up.

A good friend joined me today and filmed the session, Heath who along with his family are making a short visit to Melbourne from their domicile in Boston, USA. We’ll probably never have such an artistic episode again. Spending time with good friends is great for the soul and today really made my week, it gave me the chance to speak about the process and get some feedback and face to face support, not to mention just catching up and spending time..

So here’s the Omelette, I probably undercooked it a little as you’ll see it didn’t quite fold as we had hoped. Instead of folding you can leave it open, sprinkle a littl cheese over the top and whack it under the griller for a little to brown the cheese on top, garnsih and place on top of some multi grain sourdough and you’ve got an absolute treat for the start to your day

Bon Apetite