NO WORD ON MC DREAMY

 

I thought I would have heard from Sewing Machine World yesterday with an update on my sewing machine.  But NO.

I'm feeling ever so slightly ANNOYED.  If I've not heard from them by lunchtime, I'll be ringing them.  It's just not good enough.

My plan was to go up to Auckland and buy a new machine today, IF McDreamy's repair is too expensive, or not a viable option, given his age etc.

I hate coming on here and MOANING... no one likes it I'm sure.  But I just need to VENT.  My machine has basically been up in Auckland since the 18th of December (six weeks).   Quite long enough for 'the best technician' in the bloody country to diagnose the problem right???

Last night I cooked up a single batch of the Caramelised Onion Relish.  Stew advised me not to make too much first go, in case it turned out YUK.

ABOVE:  Into the pan when 1 kilo of onions...

once they were cooked I added the balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, mustard seeds and seasoning.   Half way through I thought... hmmm... not enough sauce, so I doubled the vinegar and sugar.  That seemed to work better.

I washed six preserving jars, and heated them up in the oven.

I wanted to be sure I had enough on hand, and ready for the relish to go into.

ABOVE: The joke was on me, because one kilo of onions makes one jar and a small dish of onion relish!  IF it tastes good, and I'll find out later on today, I will make more.  If not good... well I only 'wasted' one batch, and 45 minutes of my life.

Fingers crossed it does taste lovely.

Back to today, I'm driving down to my Dr's rooms to make an appointment to see someone, hopefully today.

There is NO point ringing to make an appointment, you get some twat who hardly speaks English, and then the run around.  It's just so much quicker and easier to drive there to make the appointment!  Crazy eh?

ONWARD...

I couldn't wait.

ABOVE:  I just had to try my relish.  It tasted OK, but not quite a good as Whitlocks.

My onion was too chunky, too much onion, and not enough of the sauce.

So, I decided to adapt the recipe.

I used a quarter of the amount of onions for my 'experiment', and four times the amount of vinegar and sugar.

I also pre cooked the onions in the microwave, instead of a frying pan, that way no risk of burning them, and they came out just fine.

I added the onions to the sauce and reduced it down, stirring all the time.  It's now cooling off in the fridge.  I can't wait to see how it worked.

It is 9.45 and ummm... I'm still in me pjs!  I just HAD to do the onion thing.

Word of warning!  Balsamic vinegar steam, as it's cooking, stings ya eyes and nose.  Keep well back.

Probably time to get myself ready for the day... as in have a shower and get dressed.  Good idea?  Yep.

Let's call my 'experiment' a FAIL.  It's more like toffee!  NOT GOOD.  Back to the drawing board.  Or just don't cook it so long?  Less sugar?  I dunno.  Might just buy the damn stuff instead.  I'm not good at this shit.

12.30 pm.  Been to the Dr.  Got advised to add more fibre to my diet, drink more water (😂😅😂) and take the laxatives until things settle down.  Pfffft.  Yep, I also have haemorroids caused by being constipated.  Wonderful.      

Now... it's time to ring the sewing machine shop...

NO, MC DREAMY IS STILL NOT FIXED.  NO, THE TECHNICIAN DOES NOT KNOW (YET) WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.  No, they don't know how much a new 'mother board' will cost if that's what is needed.

So... I just said:  "I'm done.  I'm buying a new machine.  And it won't be at your shop, because I can get the machine I want for $5,226,  $1,373 LESS than you, at a dealer on the North Shore (Auckland)".  

And I told him where that was, who was selling it, etc, etc.  He said: "Chris, give me a minute, I will ring you back", and he hung up! 

So I waited... a full 2 minutes.  And he rang me back and he said: "We will beat that price", I said by how much?  And he said by $1.  LOL

That goodness I had done my homework on machines, where I can get it, prices and so on.

Knowledge saved me $1,373 !  I am rather happy about that, and I don't have to go up to Auckland to get it.  Neil is bringing it down next week, all going well.

AND Mc Dreamy?  If he can be fixed for a reasonable price, I will do it, and keep him as a back up.

NO, I am not looking at another model/brand of sewing machine either.  I want a Brother, a machine I am 100% conversant with, and will do exactly what I want.  I am too crabby (yes I am), to learn the ins and outs of a new machine.

The only machines that have the wide throat (work area) are always super expensive.  It is what it is, and I don't care what it costs.  

It's ONLY MONEY, and ya can't take it with you.

I want to die happy, not rich.  Probably not as happy as other people, sorry other people.

10.08 pm, and it's been a quiet evening here, just watching the telly and doing a jig saw on the side.

I'm ready for bed, so catch ya tomorrow.