The food here....Oh dear

Saturday April 12th 2014

Almost everything food-wise here comes from a package.  I found a box mix for cheesecake and one for scones (Leslie).  There are probably a hundred packets for making everything.  Beef stroganoff, meat sauce, curry, meatloaf etc. etc.  Rose doesn't seem to do well with someone offering to do things different.  I would love to make her some fresh bread,  even homemade cheese.  She has individually packaged yellow cheese product.  I offered to make Scotty some homemade pancakes when I saw a package containing 3 already-made pancakes.  But she said he doesn't like homemade pancakes.  He prefers the ones in a bag.
Last night I wanted to tell Rose to not include me in for dinner in case she was making it.  I couldn't find her and the next thing I knew she was dishing out instant mashed potatoes, packaged, cubed and cooked turnip/carrot mix and deep fried breakfast sausages.  It was too late to renege on dinner or to be rude and say I didn't want it.  So I ate it.  Two nights ago she peeled a bunch of red potatoes, cut them up like fries and deep fried them.  We had those with canned corn and breaded chicken breast.  Sort of ok but definitely  still not the best choice.  So this is going to be quite challenging.  I thought the work was going to be physically challenging.  And it truly is.  But the food is another challenge indeed.  I can't see myself going to the store (on foot)  every day,  buying food and preparing it alongside Rose while she is making her own dinner her way.  First of all,  food is part of the deal for my work.  And if I have to buy all my food.... well that just isn't right.  I didn't bring enough money with me for that.  She does have rice and free range eggs and real Irish butter.  The butter was soooo yellow I was sure it had to be margarine or even butter flavored crisco.  But I saw the package.  It truly is real butter.  I think in the U.S. stores it's sold as Kerry Gold.  I found a box of what reads to be healthy fruit and nut fiber cereal.  And we always have lo fat milk. 
While walking yesterday, I saw a sign for farmers' market in town on Saturdays.  I asked Rose but she didn't know anything about it and wasn't interested.  
 I really wish Rose would let me cook something.   

Tomorrow I'm going to Castlemaine on the bus. It's not too far just extremely discouraged to ride the bike there.  The road is said to be quite treacherous.  I'm going to visit Lorna at another B&B that wants me to come and cook with her.  I had to say 'no' because I had already committed to Rosemont.   Lorna cooks all healthy, homegrown, organic and vegetarian for her little restaurant.   We'll
see.  Tomorrow will just be a day visit.  For now.......