Happy Australia Day

I went to the doctor’s this morning (feeling pretty awful – hopefully just a virus, possibly malaria!) and while there, wished the nurse and doctor (both American) a Happy Australia Day. They both said “Oh, is it?”

I explained to them that Australia Day is no big deal in Australia. Basically it just means that we all get a day off! Comparing it to the 4th of July for them, Australia Day is nothing!

But when you are away from home, like we are here, you start to think of things you can do to mark the day, as you probably never would bother at home.

The idea of making a pavlova has taken me, and as we’re going on a picnic on Sunday with some other Australian friends I plan to make one (or two, as their daughter is coeliac, and two of us can’t have dairy) to celebrate.

The thing I have been finding here is that cooking is being a nice challenge for me. I want to see what things I can make successfully here. The challenge is the altitude (it affected the cake, maybe it will affect a pavlova?) and the ability to find the ingredients that you need.

I think that we have now managed to source all the ingredients that we need for a pav, though if I am going to make a gluten free one, I’ll need a tip or two from my friend on what to substitute for the cornflour.

And of course, this all hinges on me being well enough to do it!