Ages ago, my friend Jan asked if I needed more shopping list. I reluctantly snatched this one from her hand.
When I read it, I knew all my dreams had been answered. I never have to write a list again; I will just trot around the supermarket and buy the items from this list. My pantry and fridge will be groaning with largess. I may be oversupplied with some items, toothbrushes for example, but what a small price to pay! Thank you Jan, for organising my life.
Some of you are aware that a group of volunteers has been beavering away, producing a book chronicling the stories of some of the Italian migrants to this region of Victoria. I can now report that the book has been printed, and we are now offering it for sale.
It has been a huge job which led us to find out so much, not only about the migrants, but also the many tasks that go into putting together a factual narrative.
We received a photo from the printers of the first batch of books to come off the press. It brought a surge of emotions as I finally saw the fruits of our labour. (And this offspring took longer than 9 months to deliver to the world!) The title came from a recurring phrase used by the families to explain why they migrated and why they stayed in Australia.
May I present For a Better Life to you:
I am adding a link to the email address to order the book. The cost is $30 AUD, plus postage.
The contact person is Jan Mock, the email address is u3amyrtleford@gmail.com
Thank you!
Hello World 
Thank you so much for the speedy dispatch of my books. What a fabulous achievement. Congratulations to all.
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Thank you, Gwen. Sales are soaring, so we are relieved.
The team meets tomorrow for a press interview; I will pass on your kind words.
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Yes, I agree with you. This list pretty well covers the essentials. Congratulations on the publication of the book – a labour of love.
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Thank you! It really was just that, and such a privilege to hear those stories.
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I love that list. And the fact that there are a LOT of sweets on it. This person is NOT deprived. Though cabbage and a Swede on the same list are a bit too much. I’m excited to see the book is ready. Congratulations!
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Thank you! The response has been gratifying already, and media publicity hasn’t even begun.
Not TOO many sweets, she may have been going to make Golden Syrup dumplings, for example.
I think soup was on the menu, so cabbage and swedes would have found their place in the soup pot.
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All good news
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What a marvelous history lesson you all have compiled!!! Can’t wait to find a copy to purchase here in the states!
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Happy to see cabbage crossed off the list. Who needs cabbage anyway?
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Apparently, not Jan. 😊
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YAY on your book! And Congrats! 🙂
That list has some pretty delicious things on it! But, I’d have to add some fruit and nuts to it. 🙂
HUGS!!! :-)_
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I guess we’d get bored with the same meals after a while, eh?
Nuts to you, too. 🙂
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HA! Love the “nuts to you, too.” 😀
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I had a hunch you’d relate, little one. ❤
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Yvonne, If you followed this list you’d spend twice as long in the supermarket or forget something as you dashed backwards and forwards and back to the same aisle again! I would need to reorganise and re-write the list before I left home.
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But dashing around the market is good exercise! HA! 😀
Actually, I’m with you…I have my list organized by order-of-aisles so I don’t have to backtrack. 😉
HUGS!!! 🙂
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You and I love organisation it makes life much simpler.
Backtracking is more difficult in today’s climate, with one way systems and everyone wanting to get in and out as fast as possible. 🙂
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Yes, I agree! 🙂
I always want to get things done in a good time frame…especially things like shopping which I don’t usually enjoy…so I’m in and I’m out. 😉
HA! I love making lists because it gives me joy to cross things off of the lists. And if I do something that was not on the list, I add it just so I can cross it off. 😉
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Umm, there’s probably a name for that! 🙂
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I can recall someone saying to me, in a non-complimentary way “Oh, you’re sooo organised.” I can’t remember my response.
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I have to agree, I try to organise my list in lumps, according to location in the shop. ❤ xxxx
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Jan is a super-organised person, so she would make one foray through the shop and have everything! I’d be like you, but hey! we get our daily steps up that way.
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Congrats! I actually have a shopping list I’ve been meaning to send your way.
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Okay! My email address is ytab36 @ hotmail.com. I look forward to your offering, my dumb friend. 🙂
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Nice.
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I sent it your way.
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A link to order the book would be great. It sounds interesting. I had to look up caster sugar but it’s what we call powdered sugar. A fairly sensible list but what is suede doing on it? Is it the split leather that Elvis’ blue shoes were made of or is it some sort of Down-Under somewhere snack?
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A link will soon appear on the post, Herb!
It’s swede, not suede! Now, do you know what a swede is, aside from a strapping blonde Nordic person?
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No ma’am, What I received from The Google was still a bit confusing:
noun
1.
BRITISH
a large, round yellow-fleshed root which is eaten as a vegetable; a rutabaga.
2.
the European plant of the cabbage family which produces the swede.
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It’s rather like a turnip, not all that exciting, but good in soups, etc.
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Ah! Okay. I get it now. I think I shall write about a sad Nordic person wearing split leather shoes…maybe.
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Good idea!
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Herb, According to my Canadian partner your powdered sugar is what we call icing sugar and used to make a butter cream or frosted topping. Caster sugar is the stuff we cream together with butter to make cakes, and granulated sugar, the largest grain is added to tea and coffee, if one wishes to add it. 🙂
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Thanks for clarifying that, Sue.
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I believe that powdered sugar is what we call icing sugar, Herb.
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And we don’t seem to have powdered sugar here. Just granulated, icing, caster, brown and demerara.
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I’d love to read that book. I can’t see a link.
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Okay, I shall include a link in the post!
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Hi Uma. There is a link included in the post now. 🙂
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Thanks.
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Congrats on the book!
An excellent shopping list. My favourite was the Sprinkles. No eggs.
What is OJ?
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The sprinkles would have been for the grandsons! I think they have access to free range chook eggs.
OJ is either that bloke with the surname of Simpson, or orange juice.
Is it a nice day in NZ? Spring came roaring in today; sweaters yesterday, shorts today.
I delivered some books to one of the families today, and their reactions made it all worth while. 🙂
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Sunny here but chilly wind. Yesterday was freezing. I see our blackberries (thornless) are sprouting shoots.
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Thornless? You big wuss!
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I see you have leeks on the list. I’ve been watching an Italian cooking show and have been inspired to try cooking them. Where can i get the book? It sounds much like “They Came” by a friend of mine – the story of pioneer women in Alberta.
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I sometimes use leeks instead of onion in a casserole, they give a different taste.
The contact for the book is Jan Mock: u3amyrtleford@gmail.com The Book is $30, plus postage.
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Have you ever tried making leek and potato soup?
I usually make a batch of soup each week and no matter what flavour it’s meant to be I always add leek as well as onion.
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Yes, I do like leek and potato soup, so easy, so tasty, so satisfying!
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Caster sugar need never be bought. Regular granulated sugar will work in any recipe, as it just takes a bit longer (a few moments) to dissolve. If you want to sprinkle sugar on a dessert, just grind some granulated sugar in a blender or by hand in a mortar and pestle.
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Nah, I like caster sugar, and shall form a “We support caster sugar” protest group!
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During lockdown there was a shortage of all baking products – everyone seemed to develop a love of baking. I ground down my caster sugar to make my icing sugar
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Wow!
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Creaming butter and sugar together by hand with a wooden spoon is much easier with caster sugar. That’s how I started in the dim dark days. Then it grew to a hand beater – remember these? https://www.ebay.com.au/i/333506471304?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-159824-816807-4&mkcid=2&itemid=333506471304&targetid=4585444528472142&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=398426111&mkgroupid=1309518598908813&rlsatarget=pla-4585444528472142&abcId=9300413&merchantid=136820&msclkid=f51f08c04f55125c6f8a579dcd1403f1
Nowadays its likely to be a packet mix – although on their seventh birthdays I always had my grandchildren make a marble cake from scratch. It doesn’t seem to have damaged their psyche too much.
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I had forgotten all about a hand held egg beater until your comment appeared. ❤️
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Our house was like a museum 😀Wish I still had the wind up gramophone
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Oh, yes, and some of the scratchy records.
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If I’d known you were coming I’d have baked a cake . . . And spread the welcome mat for you …
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Oh, those wonderful old songs! ❤
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Could you tell this old man how he goes about buying that book
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John, I shall send you an email. Thank you!
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I’d love a copy. When how Yvonne?
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Thank you, Lou, I am on my way to the post office as soon as I dry my flowing tresses! 🙂 xx
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