Monday Musings - do you want to be on Exco?

another NYC pic - this one taken leaving Bryant Park on the way to the NY Public Library

Today at work a colleague said she has absolutely NO desire WHATSOEVER to EVER manage people (exactly like that, spoken in caps :)). She wants to be a specialist forever and do her thing.

I said I really love managing people (mostly...) but I have no desire to be on Exco, ever. Then I said, "strange, since I used to think of myself as ambitious but really, who wants that kind of life".

So another colleague pipes up and says he wouldn't mind and he is working hard because you never know what might happen.

And so we got into the male/ female debate. Of never seeing your kids, etc.

I mentioned some senior managers I know who work til 5:30, go home and do family stuff, and then get onto the computer for another 2 - 3 hours work a night... on a slow night... and another 5 hours if it's very busy.

I don't want that life.

Is it just because my kids are still little? Could be. I know a lady on Exco who has kids aged 17 and 20. I think (but obviously am not 100% sure) that this may be easier?

I don't know.

And then I opened my Google Reader (yes, I'm still clinging to GR and I get a "kind reminder" every day) and saw this post that I disagree with on so many levels. I just don't think most people have that level of control to make the long hours work. What do you think?

Back to me...

This whole business at work has taught me to be okay with the not knowing (which normally is really not okay for a strong J like I am)... at least for now.

I have no idea what I'm going to be doing in 6 months and I'm not totally freaked out. I'm trusting that God is sorting some stuff out and creating the perfect position for me.

But if I look further, I actually don't know how I want my career to look in 5 years, or even beyond that.I certainly don't want to be taking orders from youngsters!

There's no point to this, just some ramblings...

if you don't have some of these soft Bic pencil crayons, get some. You won't be sorry!

In other news...

It's absolutely freezing here in Jhb. This morning when I jumped in my car it was 3 degrees (with the picture of an icicle) as I drove it dropped down to 1.5 degrees and finally settled at 2 in the basement at work. FREEZING.

And the weather forecast for tomorrow is a low of -4 to 0 with a high of 15............. dear Lord, we're really going to freeze.

I decided to leave work at 4 (yes, I'm going to get in trouble!) to go shopping for a jacket for Kendra. She was freaking out this morning because her vest, long-sleeved top and sweatshirt couldn't fit inside her jacket comfortably. Woolworths had jackets but none that were suitable. I ran into a mother from the school there who told me she'd been to Jet and Edgars too - no jackets there. So I bought tights for K instead.

 

I've also wanted an infinity scarf for about a month - Woolies calls them snoods (what a crazy name!). Tried one on but it felt un-Marcia so I bought 4 of those knitted things which are like headbands but meant to go over your ears... I told the cashier I'd be using them around my neck!

I also bought some RED suede takkies, some khaki green bootleg jeans and another cell phone cover. I realise I'm going over the edge...let's call it my little reward for my salary increase in April since I didn't buy anything then.

In other news, I took out those lovely soft pencil crayons on the weekend and MAN, they are delicious. I think I enjoyed playing with them more than the kids!

What's up with you?
How are you keeping warm, South Africans? 

I always think about the homeless or poor people when it's this cold. If I'm this cold in my warm house, I don't even want to think about people who don't have money for heaters or warm clothes. Let's all pray that there'll be no deaths due to open flames engulfing houses like we always have in winter.

Milk tart & grocery shopping

So Rebecca and Deanna asked about milk tart in the 29 gifts post. Milk tart is a South African staple but I've never made one. Have just found this easy recipe though so I may just take a bash at it one day when I'm 3 kg lighter!

Milk tart is absolutely delicious and yet so light that you can easily finish a whole tart between two people in one weekend.

Not that I know this from personal experience ;)

It has an almost-custardy filling with cinnamon sprinkled on top. Yummy!

It's the type of thing that everybody eats and if you take it as your contribution to any function, it WILL be gobbled up. I promise you!

An aside... A friend of mine moved from SA to Las Vegas (long story... she met a guy) and once took a milk tart to a party.

EVERYONE LOVED IT and started ordering them from her. South Africans, get this - she started charging them $20 (R150) to make one, which they were all gladly paying. We buy them here for about R20 which is why I love the story! Supply and demand in action LOL


This recipe and pic from Hulett's website


Crumb crust made with 1 packet of crushed Tennis biscuits (coconut biscuits/ cookies) and 125g butter, melted.

FILLING:
500ml (2 cups) milk
Piece of cinnamon stick
60 - 100ml Huletts White Sugar, depending on personal taste
2 eggs
45ml (3 Tablespoons) cornflour
45ml (3 Tablespoons) flour
3ml (½ teaspoon) vanilla essence
30ml (2 Tablespoons) butter
Cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling

Method

CRUST:

1. Combine the crushed Tennis biscuits and the melted butter, and press into a pie dish.

FILLING:

1. Heat the milk with the piece of stick cinnamon to just under boiling point.
2. Meanwhile, lightly beat the eggs with the sugar, then add the cornflour and flour.
3. Pour the hot milk onto this mixture, stirring rapidly. Return the mixture to the heat and cook, stirring till the mixture becomes very thick. Thorough stirring is important to prevent the mixture from catching on the bottom of the pan, and to prevent lumps.
4. Off the heat, add the essence and add the butter. Stir well till the butter is melted.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared tart crust. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

*************************

okay, onto more fun things:

SHOPPING!!!!

We have an agreement where D does the grocery shopping while I do the laundry.

This works because he sticks to the list EXACTLY and we spend a lot less money this way.

However, I am apparently "too fussy" about the veggies for the babies' food so he told me I need to do the shop every second week.

Watch that grocery bill skyrocket.

Although secretly, I really don't mind - I can spend HOURS in the cleaning products aisle looking at all the new stuff.

Who does the grocery shopping in your house? And which is your favourite aisle?