Pastizzi, pet sheep and other doings

So, I haven't been able to blog anything for four days, and prior to that I was busy doing stuff.  We've been to all manner of places the last week and I barely took any photos because I just wasn't in the mood.  It is winter after all and I've been a bit grumpy.

Nevertheless, last week we were out and about a fair bit.  We bought some frozen Pastizzi from the famous Pastizzi Cafe in Newtown, just up the road.  My favourite are the chicken and mushroom, but they do about 12 varieties, both savoury and sweet.  12 snap frozen pastizzi cost $14.

These are delicious

After 25 minutes in the oven, they came out like this:

Awesome winter deliciousness

I spotted New Zealand Natural ice cream on the way home and had to buy a tub, because I know it's the creamiest ice cream in the world, and I've tried a lot of ice cream.

As yet unopened

That wasn't all we've done in the last week.  We also:

• Had Yum Cha at Fisherman's Wharf Seafood restaurant at the Fish Markets.
• Went for dinner at an old school friend's place in Mona Vale, on the northern beaches.  We had oysters, sashimi, fresh tuna and barramundi.
• Went for dinner at a friend's place in Marrickville.  We had slow-cooked beef stroganoff and cous-cous.  It had cooked for 8 hours.
• We had lunch with a friend at his parent's place.  They've been married 50 odd years and had 7 children, 4 boys and three girls, all now grown ups - there are 8 grandchildren.  They've traveled to the four corners of the earth and are fascinating people.  We had roast lamb shoulder.  His mother does the potatoes like this - she par-boils them, sits them under the roast and with the other vegetables in the pan, pours off half a bottle of red wine.  It was fabulous.  We had a great afternoon.  And their house is full of curiosities.
• We also had a brief visit from some friends that live in Collarenebri, about 8 hours drive away.  They have a pet sheep, Bronco, that is now becoming a ram.  Becoming a ram apparently includes ramming people with horns.  Bronco was rescued as a lamb when his mother was killed on the road.  Bronco kind of thinks he's a dog.

Baby Bronco

Bronco hangs out with some dog mates

Bronco by the campfire

Bronco with growing horns and a fleece

Bronco's dog crew

We have had some very pleasant winter sunny days here in Sydney, although the nights are cold.  Even in July, our camelia tree is blooming.

Stunning winter-blooming camelia

Bruce just finds it all very tiring.

Zzzzzzzzzz

In the garden we have loads of skinks.  I've always liked lizards.  Sometimes these little ones fight over territory, but not to the death.  Just until the bigger one wins.

A skink.  We have loads of them hanging about.

I'm not sure why this iPhone photo turned out like this, but it's quite interesting.