Cook meat once

If you’re the family cook, you may have already figured this one out. Instead of defrosting and cooking meat twice, why not cook double the amount and store half for later? This way you’re ahead of the game when it comes to preparing the next meal.

Will Hodgman has emerged all smiles from a meeting with the Governor

Mr Hodgman said he would be making comment “as soon as he is able.” His meeting with Governor Peter Underwood lasted 20 minutes.

It is understood he provided the Governor with a written letter outlining why he believed his party could deliver stable government. Caretaker Premier David Bartlett earlier emerged from a brief meeting with Mr Underwood and said he had given the Governor written advice in keeping with his promise to the Tasmanian people to hand government to the Liberal Party in the event it won a greater proportion of the statewide vote.

Governor Underwood called Mr Hodgman to a meeting at 2.45pm.  Mr Bartlett this morning hinted the state will have a new Premier by the end of the day. Mr Bartlett spoke at the declaration of the poll ceremony for Denison.  He started by paying tribute to retired Liberal rival Michael Hodgman as “an undisputed gentleman who will be missed by the electorate”.  Mr Bartlett indicated that the veteran Liberal would soon get his wish to see his son Will as premier of Tasmania. “As certain as one can be, at the end of the day there will be something for you to celebrate,” Mr Bartlett said.  However, no new leader can be announced until after the election writs have been handed to the Governor  – expected sometime this afternoon, possibly as soon as 2pm. Greens MP Cassy O’Connor implored her colleagues to co-operate constructively in the new parliament, in which no one party has a majority.

Newly elected Tasmanian Greens MHA Paul O’Halloran extended a co-operative hand to his Liberal counterparts at the declaration of the pools in Braddon.   Mr O’Halloran said he and Liberal Jeremy Rockliff agreed on most political fronts. “On almost all things we agree and I look forward to working with him,” Mr O’Halloran said.

Mr Rockliff said he would push for Braddon to receive services which reflected the wealth it created for the State during his next term.

He congratulated Labor MHA Bryan Green for capturing the confidence of the electorate after a tough term, which included a demotion from Deputy Premier to backbencher.  Mr Green said his re-election meant a lot on a personal level.

High-profile candidate and newly elected member Adam Brooks said he was Liberal’s new kid on the block and he would take on whatever role Will Hodgman gave him with gusto.

Returned Labor MHA Brenton Best did not attend the declaration of the polls ceremony.

Record shows increase in vehicle sales

Australians are buying four-wheel-drive vehicles at near pre-crisis levels, leading a record 25 per cent jump in total vehicle sales in the year to March, industry figures show. Data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows 94,744 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in March, up 19,094 vehicles, or 25.2 per cent, on the corresponding month in 2009. It beat by 352 vehicles the prior record set in 2007. “This is an outstanding March result and provides further evidence that the marketplace is returning to pre-global financial crisis levels,” FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar said. SUV sales surged in March, increasing by 44.1 per cent, followed by passenger cars, up 23.5 per cent, heavy commercial vehicles, up 20.2 per cent, and light commercial vehicles were up 12 per cent. For the year to March, 251,827 vehicles were sold, an increase of 38,857 vehicles, or 18.2 per cent, compared to the first three months of 2009. The survey also showed sales to car rental companies increased 331.5 per cent during March, in line with increased tourism and business activity. Toyota retained the top selling position in March, increasing its market share to 21.4 per cent, followed by Holden with 12.4 per cent and Ford with 8.5 per cent. Mr McKellar said business sales showed some signs of easing following the phase out of targeted tax breaks.

“But it is pleasing to see renewed growth from private buyers,” he said. “With warnings of further interest rate rises, private buyers should move to take advantage of the current rate levels”.

Man finds neighbour is long-lost brother

TWO Canadian men, each given up for adoption at a young age, were separately searching for their biological families when they learned that all they had to do was walk across the street.

The two men were shocked to discover that they were brothers – and neighbours – the Canadian Press reported. The surprise came when one of the men, Tommy Larkin, was speaking with someone from the adoption agency about the identity of his brother. “She gave me his name and asked me four or five times if I knew him,” Mr Larkin told a local newspaper. “I said I didn’t and she kept asking me if I was sure I haven’t met him.” Then she gave him his newfound brother’s address.

“I am looking at the house right now,” he said.

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