Truth Universally Acknowledged

The title of this blog is an obvious reference to my favourite author, Jane Austen. My other great inspiration is Ella Fitzgerald. I intend this site to be general musings about things which interest me, and hopefully you as well.

Name:
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

I'm a girl in her twenties living in New Zealand - of Irish and Scottish descent. I'm married to a wonderful guy and we live in a tiny house in the suburbs with a menagerie of soft toys and model aircraft. My main occupations at the moment are attempting to become and author and surviving my day job... wish me luck!


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The Truth Universally Acknowledged Resource Centre (US)

Browse stuff I like at Amazon.com.

Thursday, 28 July 2005

A dash for the loo saves a life

A paramedic making a toilet stop probably saved the life of a man who suffered a heart attack at a Bay of Plenty service station.

The 51-year-old service station worker was attended to by a St John Ambulance paramedic caught short while transporting a woman to Tauranga Hospital.

The paramedic, who wants to remain anonymous, pulled into the Maungatapu BP service station just as an employee developed severe chest pains.

The worker was crawling through to the workshop, urging his workmates to call an ambulance. No sooner had the staff dialled 111 than the paramedic was seen making a beeline to the service station loo.

The hugely relieved staff couldn't believe the speed at which their 111 call had been answered. The paramedic was confronted by a staff member saying "follow me quickly".

He found the man was not breathing and had no pulse.

The sprint to the loo was replaced with a sprint to the ambulance. The paramedic defibrillated the man - two shocks and his heart restarted, and his breathing.

Mt Maunganui ambulance officer Gary Bishell said there was little doubt that without early defibrillation, the man would have died. He was now recovering well.

From the Herald.

Tuesday, 26 July 2005

I am a Frappacino, apparently

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern

At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent

You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet

Your caffeine addiction level: low

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Saturday, 23 July 2005

Recipe: Chocolate Caramel Square

This is absolutely delicious. One of those treats you shouldn't make too often because you know you'll want to eat more of it than you should.

Cream 4 oz/125 g butter and 4 oz/125 g sugar. Add 1 egg, then 1 1/2 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons of custard powder, and 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Divide the shortcake in two. Press half into a biscuit baking tin.

For the filling, melt together 3 oz butter, 1/2 tin condensed milk, 2 tablespoons of golden syrup, and 1/4 cup of sugar. Pour over the base. Sprinkle with small bits of the remaining shortcake mixture.

Bake at 180 degrees celsius for 20-30 minutes. Once baked, make chocolate icing* and spread over the square. Cut into servings once set. Yum!

* Mix 2 teaspoons margarine/butter, 2 dessertspoons cocoa powder, a little boiling water and enough icing sugar to make a smooth consistency.



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Monday, 11 July 2005

Countdown to holiday!

My husband and I have just booked a holiday to Tropical North Queensland in September! :-) It will be the first time either of us have been to Australia, and our first holiday overseas together. I'm very very excited. We're going to have a lovely time, leaving our soggy winter behind and lazing on the beach, exploring the rain forest and snorkelling on the reef. Eight weeks to go!

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