Hi from Canberra, Australia

Just a short note to introduce myself and to thank those contributing to this site.

I have been making no knead breads for a few years now, but with a bit more time on my hands (recently stopped working full time) have been looking for better breads and exploring other baking. Have been working through "The Baker's Apprentice" and recently through some recipes on this site.

With a bit of a back problem, I have been minimising hand kneading. I have recently looked to replace my Kenwood K-mix, which really didn't like heavy kneading (and which I may have inadvertently killed). After much reading, I decided my best bet was an Ankarsrum Assistant, but it did not appear to be available in Australia. However, some internet sleuthing turned up Blackwood Lane (http://blackwoodlane.com), which supplied them in Australia at a very reasonable 5% over the Amazon US price (a very low markup indeed).

My Assistant arrived late today, and I am intending to give it a workout tomorrow morning with some Rustic Bread (from this site - I made my preferment this morning, in anticipation) and a Woman's Weekly sponge cake. Looking forward to the outcome!