Drifting through life

This is the month when I usually do a trial bake of the christmas mince pies . Remember them? Mmmm, mince pies...... But this year, my available bench space is 37cm x 47cm.  Not really big enough to be mixing and rolling out pastry. I just know if I try, I'll be banging my elbow against the wall with each push of the rolling pin. I have other options.... I could buy one of those roll-up plastic pastry rolling sheets in a big enough size to cover the hotplates and hope it's sturdy enough to stay level while I work. (unlikely and it's a bit too high for comfort) I could clear off the coffee table , get down on my knees, ( ouch ), and roll the pastry there. I could move the whole operation out to the back porch where my dining table now lives. It's half covered in stuff, but I can move that temporarily. One way or another, I will be making the mince pies. Because the bought ones just can't compare.

I will get through the list of tasks I've set for today. >  wash those sheets and towels I ignored yesterday. >  vacuum the carpet. (not too thoroughly, my back is already unhappy) >  scrub the bathroom, again, not too fussy here. >  make that chocolate self-saucing pudding I've been craving for several months now.  and here it is, fresh out of the oven, still boiling hot. No, this is not a packet mix, it's fully home-made. I got the recipe a few years ago from a blogger who was moving from Melbourne to Adelaide. (Funny thing, I don't remember her name, but I remember the name of her blog.) I washed and dried the mixing measuring things while the pudding was baking. Yes, I am *that* clever!