Quick Picks for New Year 2025

Best New Year Ever 2025 © art Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2024

Watch some hilarious television, a good place to start 2025.

Fisk is an Australian television comedy series
on ABC Television

So what if your lips move while you read or you listen to an audio book. In 2025 read all you can and talk about it afterwards.
Sherwood Arboretum Brisbane volunteer workers preserving the future. Photograph courtesy of Sherwood Arboretum Committee 2024. Get active in 2025!

Exercise followed by quiet contemplation does wonders for your brain and your inner self.

Charles Allston Collins masterpiece titled ‘Convent Thoughts’ circa 1851 held by Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Charles Allston Collins (1828-1873) was a British painter, writer and illustrator associated with the Pre-Raphaelite era.

A good nap also works wonders!

Live demonstration of a cat nap © image Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2024

And never ever pass up the opportunity for a sweet treat.

Dot’s home-baked Red Velvet Cupcake with White Chocolate Icing © image Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2024

The last word comes from the farm…

Jasper’s advice © image Dot Bernet 2024

Wishing you the happiest and safest of New Years 2025
and keep writing! đź’— Gretchen Bernet-Ward

How to Tackle a Toastie

Deconstructed sandwich © Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2023

A person reaches an age where they long for an ordinary sandwich. In this case I asked for an avocado and fetta toastie. This delicious tasting yet very difficult to eat deconstructed sandwich on a slice of toasted rye bread contained half an avocado, chunks of fetta, a whole tomato halved, and rocket garnish on top. It was drizzled with a type of balsamic vinaigrette and had a wedge of lemon to add for zest. It was difficult to eat by hand so I attacked it with a knife and fork. Although a delicious flavour, it was quite a battle to get it to do what I wanted, e.g. stay together long enough so that I could eat it!

HERE ARE THE OFFICIAL INGREDIENTS:

THREE GIRLS SKIPPINGAvo on Toast—Lunch Menu
“Avocado on seeded sourdough with thyme roasted tomatoes, Persian feta and chimichurri.”

Yes, fetta and feta are different. The correct spelling for fetta depends on the type of cheese being referred to and the country of origin of the cheese in question. There is Cow’s Milk Fetta and Buffalo Milk Feta. You can also get local Camel Milk Persian Feta. Nevertheless, I am not exactly sure the chimichurri lived up to expectations but at least my taste buds were made aware of a new flavour.

Visit info@threegirlsskipping.com.au in Graceville Brisbane if you are feeling hungry 🙂 and their soy latte was delicious.

❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward

Entirely unrelated but terrifically tasty from Brumby’s Bakery Sherwood Brisbane—

Aussie sweet treats for morning tea, arvo tea or whenever © Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2023

A. Top left to right: Butterfly Cream Cupcake, Iced Fairy Cupcake
B. Middle left to right: Cream Bun, Custard Tart, Mini Lemon Meringue Pie, Apple & Custard Tart, Passionfruit Tart.
C. Bottom left to right: Iced Fairy Cupcake, immortal Vanilla Slice, Carmel Slice ChocTop, out of shot Cherry Ripe Slice.
Buon appetito, sweet treat connoisseurs!