The Tingle Factor Box

It's Like Magic! Revelation Box

Imagine, it's your birthday. You had to get through the whole day, and dinner before you were allowed to open a single present, but it was worth it. You got lots of practical things like books and clothes, but your Mum and Dad knew that you were really interested in magic and illusion and managed to find a special sort of a box, a revelation box. You've not seen one before, but you look forward to amazing your friends as you make their coins appear and disappear!

Roaming Roy Revisits Ratting - The Plague In Sydney

This week, Roy decided that with so many of his friends being unwell, and some joking about having the plague, it was a perfect time to revisit a post from way back in 2010. The plague is a serious disease, and luckily, we haven't had any cases in Australia for a very long time. Yet when the plague did come calling in Sydney, it not only made many people very sick, but it forced some major changes in how we protected the port and in housing conditions. Hygiene became an issue and the streets of Sydney were cleaned up remarkably well - and reasonably quickly too!

Although today most of us see areas like The Rocks and Walsh Bay as beautiful, somewhat trendy areas of Sydney with quaint alley-ways (like Ferry Lane above!) cafes, restaurants and shops, in 1900 they were almost a different world! Even the landlords who owned properties in the area usually didn't live there themselves, and they weren't particularly good at ensuring that their properties were kept in good shape. The area was well known as a slum, probably because those who could afford it had moved further out, into newer areas of the city, thinking the old centre was unsanitary and unhealthy. The wharf's at Walsh Bay were not much better - nothing like they are today, full of apartments, restaurants, theatres and galleries. They were working wharfs, and none too clean either! The sea walls and wharves were decaying, rats could easily move from ship to shore and once there, find perfect places to make their homes.

In 1900 some of these sea faring rats bought with them what Sydney-siders had feared would one day arrive - the Black Death or Bubonic Plague. People had been watching the progress of the plague from China through the shipping routes with great fear, knowing it was likely to one day reach Australian shores. On January 26, 1900, the first case of the plague was reported. Arthur Payne, a van driver in Millers Point was the first to contract the disease. He lived in number 10, Ferry Lane, not far from the Walsh Bay wharves. The area where he lived is now part of a small park and you can even see the archaeological remains of his house in the area. In fact, Roy and I are sitting where his house was in the picture above! The park is called 'The Paddock' or Pottinger Park and is between Pottinger and Windmill Streets in Millers Point. 

Although it was believed that the slum areas around the Rocks would be the worst hit by the Plague, only 3 people from the area died out of a total 103 deaths. 303 people in total were diagnosed with the disease. This did not prevent the entire Rocks and wharf district being quarantined though. Residents were forced to clean, disinfect, lime-wash and sometimes even destroy buildings to try to prevent the spread of the disease. Others took up rat catching, a task which was not only necessary, but which had become quite well paid! Those who had the plague, or came into contact with someone who had, were sent to the Quarantine Station at North Head and any people who died were sent there to be buried.

Although the eqidemic was frightening and serious, it was over on July 17. This did not mean that the cleaning efforts were over though! The government used the plague as an excuse to resume (take over) the area, and set about cleaning it up. Soon the government owned essentially everything from Circular Quay right to Darling Harbour. The Sydney Harbour Trust was set up in 1902 to administer the cleaning up of the area. Within the first year they retrieved tons of garbage from the Harbour and foreshore, including over 2500 rats, 1000 cats, 250 bags of meat, 300 bags of fish, 1450 fowl, and assorted sheep, pigs, cows and goats. They also built a new seawall at Walsh Bay, made of precast concrete. It was thought that this new wall would be rat proof. You can still see this wall at low tide and Roy and I are sitting on top of it in the photo above. 

Roy Creates Sumptuously Spectacular Apricot Rough Slice

 

Recently, Roy has been teaching a very close friend how to cook, and this friend wanted to make a slice for a meeting he was going to. Roy wanted to find something suitably easy to make so that his friend could make it all on his own! He also wanted it to be spectacular though, so the recipe had to be a little bit special. This apricot rough slice seemed just perfect, and the results were even better than he had imagined. So this week, Roy Creates Sumptuously Spectacular Apricot Rough Slice.

You Will Need:

• ¾ of a cup of self raising flour
• ¾ of a cup of desiccated coconut
• ¾ of a cup of brown sugar
• 90 grams of butter
• 125 grams of dark chocolate
• 30 grams of copha
• 125 grams of dried apricots
• Another 2 cups of desiccated coconut
• ¾ of a cup of condensed milk

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line an 18x28 centimetre lamington tray with baking paper
• Melt the butter
• Mix together the flour, brown sugar and ¾ of a cup of coconut
• Add the melted butter and mix everything together

• Press the mix into the lined lamington tray
• Bake for 12 minutes or until a light brown colour
• While the slice is baking, chop the apricots into small pieces (Roy likes to use scissors for this) and place them in a pan of water. Bring them to the boil and simmer for 2 minutes. This will make them soft and succulent. Drain the apricots and set them aside

• When the base of the slice has cooled a little, mix together the 2 cups of coconut, condensed milk and apricots
• Spread the apricot mix over the base.
• Use a piece of baking paper to press the filling down firmly so it holds together. Then throw the baking paper away
• Melt together the chocolate and copha and, when melted, spread over the apricot and coconut filling
• Refrigerate the slice until set and then cut into pieces
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy!

Sandpapering Shoes

Prevent children from slipping and falling the first time they wear new shoes by sandpapering the soles.

(Fort Lincoln Cemetary 1001 Handy Hints To Housewives circa 1920))