The Tingle Factor Box

Is It A Bed Warmer? Jaffle Iron

Imagine you are living in Australia in the 1960s. It is a cold, wet day and you have just arrived home from school. You are starving and cold, and when Mum hands you your afternoon tea you are thrilled. Toasty bread, oozy cheese and thickly sliced ham and tomato all meld together to create the perfect, delicious jaffle.

When I showed the children this old fashioned jaffle iron, their reaction was very funny. They looked at the shape, the long handles and the metal ‘container’ at the end, and guessed that the item was an old fashioned bed warmer, with the coals being put in the area where the bread goes. When I told them that the item was actually a jaffle iron, like the ones we use to make toasted sandwiches, they were very surprised, with one child telling me ‘I thought it was a new idea’.

Although the iron I showed the children is a ‘jaffle iron’, and even has the name embossed in the metal, jaffles go by a number of different names. In Australia and South Africa they are called jaffles, but they also go by the names pudgy pies, toasties, brevilles and tosti. They are extremely popular in Australia and South Africa, and it is possible that they originated in one of these countries. We do not know for sure though when or where the jaffle iron was first produced. In the 1920s in America Charles Champion patented the Tostwich, which is probably the oldest American produced toasted sandwich maker.

In Australia, the toasted sandwich maker or jaffle iron has long been very popular. In fact, it is possible that people were making basic toasted sandwiches over the campfire in the 1800s. The jaffle iron was perfect for the Australian climate though as it was ideal for outdoor cooking over a fire, and made good use of leftover food. In 1974 the Australian company Breville produced the first popular electric jaffle maker, which used a standard sized sliced bread and actually cut and sealed the sandwich. Earlier irons like the one I showed the children sealed the sandwich, but did not cut it. Breville sold over 400000 Snack and Sandwich Toasters in Australia in 1974, and soon created versions for the British market. Today many manufacturers use a similar design for electric jaffle makers, but camping stores still sell jaffle irons like the old one I showed the children for those wanting to indulge in this old fashioned treat.

Roaming Roy and Rover At Kalkari

Earlier this week, Roy and Rover were fascinated by the booklet about Ku-ring-gai Chase Koala Sanctuary. Living not too far away from where the sanctuary once was, and always liking to know the history of the places they love, they were intrigued to discover that there was once a koala sanctuary in the National Park, and wanted to know whether there was anything left of it, and what happened to the animals. A little research revealed that Kalkari Visitor Centre in the National Park is what remains of the old Koala Sanctuary so Roy and Rover decided to pay a visit. 

If you would like to visit Kalkari Visitor Information Centre it is located in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, on Ku-ring-gai Chase Road, not far from Mt Ku-ring-gai. There are toilets, picnic tables, a discovery walk and visitor centre to explore and a lovely walk from the visitor centre down to Bobbin Head. Just remember if you decide to do the walk to Bobbin Head - what goes down must come up!

The Koala Sanctuary was established in Ku-ring-gai chase in the 1950s and it is believed that at the time there were about 60 koalas living in the park (though whether they were all inside the sanctuary is unknown). There were perches in public enclosures for 20 koalas. In addition to the koalas though, there were other native animals and birds on display, and thriving bushland which was, according to some, full of waratahs. In 1967 NSW National Parks and Wildlife took over management of the entire national park, including the Koala Sanctuary. The fences were removed so that the animals could roam freely. The koalas were not released though as it was feared they could not survive in the unfenced bush. They were sent to Featherdale Wildlife Reserve and Taronga Zoo. 

The sanctuary is not entirely gone though. Kalkari Visitor Information Centre uses what remains of the koala sanctuary, with the original area of bush and paths remaining, though the bush seems to be struggling in places to recover from a past bushfire. Roy and Rover prefer the untamed areas of the park, where the bush seems full of life and lushly green, but if you wonder what some of the plants are, Kalkari is certainly worth a visit as there are many informative signs to tell you about the plants, the animals and even some of the history of the park. 

Roy Creates A Beautiful Beaded Brooch

This week, Roy was feeling crafty. He decided he wanted to go through his many craft supplies and see what exciting activity he could come up with. With many of his friends having birthdays in Winter, he also hoped he might be able to make something which would be a great gift. When he discovered that he had lots of pretty beads in his supplies, he decided to have a go at making a flower brooch. He thought the brooch, when finished, looked rather lovely, and decided it would be a great activity to share. So this week, Roy Creates A Beautiful Beaded Brooch.

You Will Need:

• Craft wire
• Pliers
• Small, round beads (how many you will need depends on how big you make your flower)
• Green felt
• A needle and green thread
• Scissors
• A safety pin or a brooch back

Method:

• Start by threading a string of beads onto the wire (Roy used about 15 per petal), and twist the wire into a loop around the beads. This is your first petal.
• Add more beads and twist the wire to make a second petal.
• Make a third petal the same way, and twist the wire around the base of the first two petals to hold them together.

• Make two more petals, twisting the wire as you go so that the petals sit together in a flower shape.
• Add another coloured bead and pull it into the centre of the flower. You can use this to hold all of the petals in position with the wire.
• Use the pliers to cut the wire off and twist the ends together, folding the sharp ends under where they will not cut the person wearing the brooch.

• Cut out a leaf shape from the green felt

• Use the needle and thread to sew the flower onto the leaf, as Roy is doing in the picture above.
• If you have a longer piece of wire which can’t be hidden under the flower, you can poke it through the leaf and use it to help hold the safety pin in place.
• Sew the safety pin firmly onto the back of the leaf.
• Wear your new brooch, or give it to a friend as a beautiful gift.

I've Never Seen It! - Ku-ring-gai Koala Sanctuary

Imagine you are a child living in the 1950s and it is the school holidays. You love school holidays, because you are able to spend time with your family, and Daddy even organises to have some days out with you and Mummy. He asked what you would like to do during the holidays and you told him you would like to visit the Koala Sanctuary in the Kuringai National Park. You have seen pictures of the koala in books, but you have never seen one for real, and you just know it will be a wonderful experience!

When I showed this brochure about the Ku-ring-gai Koala Sanctuary to the children, they were astonished. The children and I live not far from the Ku-ring-gai Chase, where the Koala Sanctuary once stood, and had even visited the exact location on weekend outings and school excursions, but knew nothing about the old Koala Sanctuary. They wondered why the sanctuary wasn't there anymore, especially since the pictures in the book show so many babies, suggesting that their breeding program was 'very successful'. They thought it was a terrible shame that it wasn't there anymore. 

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park has a long history, having been set aside as a National Park in the 1890s. It was not until 1940 though that plans for a Koala Sanctuary began to be made. Ku-ring-gai Chase was managed by a trust and in 1940 they became interested in saving the 'native bear'. In the 19th century and into the early 20th century, Koalas had been hunted for their fur and by 1940, they had become an endangered species. It was hoped that a koala sanctuary in the natural surroundings of Ku-ring-gai Chase might allow breeding to occur and help save the species. It was also hoped that by fencing the area the koalas would be safe from predators and diseases. The Second World War meant that the Koala Sanctuary was delayed, but in 1945 Mr Hallstrom, a local resident, wrote to the Trust suggesting a planting of Koala friendly trees be made in the park. 2000 trees were planted (though where the planting was is not known).

This was not the end of plans to help save the Koala though. In 1950 it was decided that an 8 acre area of the park would be fenced and a sanctuary established. A wardens cottage and toilet block were built by the trustees while Mr Hallstrom arranged for a koala shelter to be built. By 1953 walking tracks, a kiosk and more animal enclosures had been built. Over the following years animals were gifted to the park and the photos in the book I showed the children show there were not only koalas, but other native animals and birds. In 1967, NSW National Parks and Wildlife took over the management of Ku-ring-gai Chase and the Koala Sanctuary was closed. Come back on Friday to find out what happened to the sanctuary site, and the animals who lived there. 

Roy And Rover Enjoy Pies In The Sky

This week, Roy decided it was time to introduce his online friends to one of his favourite places to eat out. Roy loves pies and has tried many pies in his travels. Some of the best though come from a place not far from where he lives, Pie In The Sky at Cowan and he wanted to tell his online friends about these yummy pies. He also thought this would also be the perfect time to introduce his friends to his new friend, Rover. Rover is a little dog which Roy found wandering near our home. He was so enthusiastic about travelling around and seeing new places that Roy decided he would be a perfect companion. So this week Roy and Rover enjoy Pies In The Sky! 

If you would like to visit Pie In The Sky it is located on the Old Pacific Highway, at Cowan, between Berowra and Brooklyn. Pie In The Sky is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and on Saturday and Sunday opening earlier, at 8am. They make a huge range of tasty meat pies, plus pasties, sausage rolls and delicious sweet pies. 

Although pie In The Sky has been selling their iconic pies here for about 20 years, before the restaurant was established the site and building were part of a service station along what was then the main road to Newcastle. Before the F3 Freeway opened the road was not only well travelled, but it was well provided for with several service stations along the section between Berowra and Brooklyn. When the F3 was built though, traffic on the old road decreased and slowly the service stations went out of business. Some of the old service stations disappeared entirely, but others became other businesses, like Pie In The Sky. For many years a wooden lifeboat was perched on top of the area where the underground petrol tanks were, and this was an icon of the pie shop. When the petrol tanks were taken out in mid 2012 though, the boat unfortunately fell apart. 

Pie In The Sky has developed a reputation for great food, a fabulous location and friendly service. The restaurant is also very popular with motor bike riders who enjoy travelling the scenic road and stopping for a delicious pie. Pie In The Sky sells not only the classic Aussie meat pie, but a variety of chicken, lamb and vegetable pies, from old favourites like Steak and Kidney to exotic flavours like Thai Chicken. Roy particularly recommends the Beef, Cheese and Bacon, while Rover is partial to one of the delicious Sausage Rolls. Pies can be either eaten straight from the bag or served with salad or mushy peas, chips and gravy. You can even have a hot drink and a fabulous fruit pie to finish off  your meal.

Roy Creates Yummy Porcupine Meatballs

This week, Roy needed to make a delicious dinner for his Grandpa for his Birthday. His Grandpa has a particular favourite meal, porcupine meatballs, which Roy thought would be perfect for the occasion, and Roy asked Grandma if she would mind sharing the recipe. Grandma not only shared the recipe, but said it was actually a recipe from one of her friends, Ann, and a great improvement on the original recipe, which was 'a bit plain'. Roy loved the results, and so did his Grandpa. So this week, Roy Creates Yummy Porcupine Meatballs.

You Will Need:

• 500 grams of beef mince
• 1/3 of a cup of fresh breadcrumbs (about 1 piece of fresh bread)
• 1/3 of a cup of uncooked rice
• 1 onion
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper to taste
• 440 millilitre tin of condensed tomato soup (Roy likes to use the spicy one, but either is fine)
• 250 millilitres of water
• The zest of a small lemon
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 dried bayleaf
• 1 dessertspoon of sugar

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius
• Finely chop or mince the onion (Roy did it in a little food processor)

• Combine the fresh breadcrumbs, mince, rice, onion, egg and salt and pepper to taste. It is easiest to mix the meat with your hands. Form into balls (about the size of a golf ball).

• Put the meatballs into an oven proof casserole dish

• Mix together the lemon zest, tomato soup, garlic, water, sugar, bay leaf and salt and pepper to taste and pour over the meatballs.
• Bake the porcupine meatballs, covered, for 1 and a half hours.
• Serve and enjoy. Roy likes to serve the meatballs with salad as the rice is already in the meatballs.

It's So Cute - Globe Pencil Sharpener

Imagine you are a child, going to school in the 1940s. You love school, seeing your friends, learning new things (though you don't much care for the cane!) One of the things you love most though is being given 'pencil sharpening duty'. Pushing the pencils into the huge pencil sharpener and turning the crank handle is great fun. You only wish you had a pencil sharpener to use with the coloured pencils your parents gave you for your birthday, so you save up your pocket money and money from doing chores to buy your own. It is a beautiful sharpener, with a little globe on top to collect the pencil shavings. 

When I showed the children this pencil sharpener, they thought it was rather sweet. Pencil sharpeners are something which all the children are familiar with, and most of the children carry one in their pencil case. They didn't realise that pencil sharpeners had such a long history though, assuming they were a modern invention, or that, if they did exist, they would be big and heavy. To see a sharpener which was not dissimilar to the ones they carry was quite a surprise. The thing which intrigued them most was seeing countries which don't exist on modern maps, as borders and countries have changed since the globe was made.

Pencils have been around for hundreds of years, but for much of this time, sharpening them has been a tedious and  skilled task, with people who wanted a sharp pencil having to whittle the wood with a small, sharp knife. It wasn't until the 19th century that people really began to look for a better way. The first design for a pencil sharpener was created by Bernard Lassimone, a Frenchman, but it was not a lot better than whittling the pencil by hand and his design did not catch on. In 1847 though another Frenchman, Therry des Estwaux came up with a new design. His design involved putting the pencil into a cone shaped hole, and twisting it against a sharp surface.

Estwaux design was the first prism sharpener, and was not dissimilar to sharpener designs we use today. It was not easy to mass produce though and in 1851 the America, Walter Foster improved on the design and made it possible to mass produce it. The design for these small, handheld sharpeners did not change an awful lot in the next century, though in the 20th century novelty sharpeners with an area to collect the pencil shavings became popular (like the globe I showed the children). Such sharpeners remain popular today. 

Roaming Roy Points Out Forgotten History - Bedlam Point Wharf

This week, Roy decided it was time to explore some more of the Sydney foreshore. He had been reading about an old wharf in Gladesville, and thought it might have actually been the wharf he had been so taken with on a visit last year. He went back through some of his photos and lo and behold, there it was! He was fascinated by the story of this hidden piece of Sydney’s past, and decided it was a perfect time to share the story.

If you would like to visit the remains of the old wharf at Bedlam Point, it is located in Gladesville, not far from Rockend Cottage, the restaurant in the house which was owned by Banjo Paterson’s Grandmother. Head along Punt Road into Banjo Paterson Park, and find a parking spot. Then, follow the narrow path through the bush in the direction of the water. If you follow this path for long enough you will come across all sorts of interesting old things, including the wharf in question.

Bedlam Point has a long and interesting history, not least for the Gladesville Asylum which is only a short walk away! Today, Roy is interested in the wharf though, and will leave the interesting story of the asylum for another day. Bedlam Point sits on the Parramatta River, opposite Abbotsford, and this is the narrowest point of the River until Homebush. In 1828, Sir Thomas Mitchell suggested it would be a good place to build a ferry crossing. He thought this would be appropriate because it would allow a new branch to be added to the Great North Road, running through Abbotsford and to other points on the harbour’s North Shore.

The first record of a wharf in use at Bedlam Point is in about 1832 to 1834, by which time a ferry was operating. The ferry was operated by convicts and could carry only one horse and cart and a few passengers. A chain was laid across the Parramatta River, and the ferry would then be pulled across using a hand wound winch. The Great North Road ran to either side of the Ferry Crossing, and today remains of both the wharf itself and of the road can be seen at Bedlam Point.

Roy Creates Grandma's Chicken Curry

This week, Roy decided that with the cold weather, he felt like making something a bit spicy for dinner. He asked his Grandma whether she had any recipes which would be appropriate and she suggested he make her old fashioned chicken curry. Roy thought that sounded great and, when it was made, thought it tasted even better! So this week Roy Creates Grandma's Chicken Curry.

You Will Need:

• 750 grams of chicken thighs
• 1 onion
• 3 or 4 medium tomatoes
• 1 tin of coconut milk (Roy likes to be a bit healthy and uses coconut flavoured evaporated milk in this)
• 1teaspoon of chicken stock powder
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 2 teaspoons of grated fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons of ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons of cummin
• 1 teaspoon of tumeric
• 1/2 a teaspoon of chilli flakes or to taste
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar

Method:

• Start by finely chopping the onion and cutting the chicken into bite sized chunks
• Roughly chop the tomatoes.

• Fry off the onion and chicken in a little olive oil

• Add all the spices, the garlic and ginger and fry them off until they start to smell delicious
• Add the tomatoes and stir until they start to break down

• Add the coconut milk, sugar and stock powder, stir and allow to simmer until the chicken is cooked and the sauce thickens.
• If the sauce is too thin mix a teaspoon of cornflour with a little water until you have a paste, stir this into the curry and let it cook until the sauce thickens, stirring frequently.
• Serve with rice and enjoy.

They're Only For Special Occasions - School Tie

Imagine you are a small boy, getting ready for your first day of high school. It is all very exciting, but there is so much to think about too. The main thing you have been thinking about this morning is how on earth you put the uniform tie on. You have never had to tie a tie, and you wonder what to do with it. Eventually, Mum comes in to give you a hand, showing you how to knot the tie and making sure it is straight. With the tie on you feel so grown up!

When I showed this old uniform tie to the children, they were intrigued by it. For most of the children, the idea of having to wear accessories like a tie as part of their school uniform was ridiculous, but one or two with older siblings thought their uniforms might have a tie, but only worn on ‘special or important occasions’. Not many schools expect their students to wear ties as an everyday article of clothing, but the children rather liked the idea, thinking it would make them feel ‘all grown up’ to have to wear a tie, ‘almost like we were going to work!’

Ties have a remarkably long history, with the earliest examples dating from as early as 221 BC. This was the year when the Chinese Emperor, Shih Huang Ti was buried with his famous terracotta army, each member of which was wearing a neck tie. Of course these neck ties were not like those worn by men today, and in fact it would be centuries before the narrow ties popular today became fashionable. For most of history, ties were neckerchiefs or cravats and they were worn not only in the ancient world (Roman orators wore neckerchiefs to keep their throats warm), but also in more modern times. These early ties were part of uniforms, or just kept necks warm.

It was not until the cravat became popular in the time of King Louis XIV of France (the 17^th century) that neckties started to be worn for fashion reasons. Louis had seen Croation soldiers wearing similar ties and liked the look, and soon began to have cravats made in fine, highly decorative fabrics. In fact they became an almost mandatory accessory at the French court. In 1784 the tie received another boost in popularity with Beau Brummel, the authority on mens fashion at the time, using the necktie as a sign of individuality and self expression. As Brummel adopted the tie into his wardrobe, others followed and it became exceedingly popular. It wasn’t until 1864 though that mass produced, ready to wear ties became available, making them a fashion accessory for men not only from the upper classes, but for other men too. By the 1920s ties were being produced by French designers, with patterns inspired by the art of the time. It was also in the 20^th century that the classic shape of the tie (though they varied in width) was cemented and that ties became a normal part of mens everyday outfits, even for schoolboys. Today, ties are a little less fashionable, with many choosing to forgo them entirely, but who knows, they might return to popularity yet!