Positivity, apple crumble and a movie

I am going to start on a serious note and end up frivolous. Just because I can. Can't be serious all the time, it's boring and depressing. I'm all for a well balanced diet.

The serious part:

Even though there are still precious moments to celebrate, the fact of the matter is, we don't celebrate enough. Especially since Covid19 struck. During this pandemic, our eyes seem to be more focussed on what can't then on what can be realised. We seem to not only work hard at not getting infected with this virus, we also seem to have lost the zest for fun, laughter, for gratitude and daily life itself. And I get that. I do. Believe me I have my moments. Recently I've reached a point where I realise I need to get a grip. Be in charge of myself and my state of mind. Rationally, I believe we are all in charge of how we feel or experience a set back or a triumph. So, it's time for me anyway, to regroup and refocus.

The media is an essential and not unimportant aspect of life today. We want to know what's going on in the world. Thing is, depressing news travels faster than the speed of light and we appear to be attracted to it like moths to a flame when it comes to articles that get our dander up. Our blood pressure rises and our judgement calls roll out like the outgoing tide after a tsunami. Dragging everyone and everything in its wake.

The fun bit

So I'm turning over a new leaf. Well, working on it and accepting that I may occasionally have a minor set back after which I regroup and start again. I may have avoided the actual Covid19 virus but I'm done with that sad and somber variety. And how best to be happy?

Well for me, that's in the kitchen ( amongst other frivolous things) and creating something yummy to share, put a smile on faces and give me that sense of satisfaction.

Recently we invited the son of friends over for dinner. On his own, no mum and dad, well that wasn't allowed anyway. One visitor per 24 hours. Actually, this is one way to totally focus on one person. To not have to share the limelight with others. To have time for a personal and if desired, in depth conversation. So, we extended a dinner invite, a birthday dinner. It was intended as a 'replacement' for his annual concert ticket as there are no concerts.

We didn't want the evening to be boring- just three old fuddy duddies around the table, his 26 years up against our three 65+ years, so unbeknown to our guest we decided that after dinner, my hubby, brother in law and the birthday boy, would go upstairs to the other apartment and watch a 3D movie. Planning a tight schedule was paramount, as we have a 9pm curfew in place.

To be all organised I prepared the meal early and was for 85% all set by lunchtime. The meal couldn't be too extensive or we'd run out of time. A good cook plans to the minute and others consider me a good cook so I felt super confident all would be well.

I started with the dessert. Apple Crumble. I know that all 3 love this dish. There would only be a main and dessert so that was simple.

On the dot of 5:30pm our guest rang the lobby bell. Couldn't be better. I got my act together while a catch up chit chat was had on the sun warmed balcony. Before I served the main meal I looked at the apple crumble in the oven and saw the crust was cooked but pale. I upped the temperature and switched to grill. The idea was, serve the meal, put plates on the table and return to the kitchen to turn off the grill. I love it when a plan comes together.

Dinner was served. The timing went perfect. The meal was delicious, even if I do say so myself. As I picked up my glass for the last sip of the wine I glanced over to the kitchen and had this weird sensation come over me. The air looked a light shade of greying blue. For a split second I thought I needed to clean my glasses...just for a split second. Then without warning I almost flew across the table straight into the kitchen and turned off the grill. My feet never touched the ground. A cloud of sticky buttery blue-ish smoke swarmed around my head and into my nose. The apple crumble topping was as black as soot. Pitch black. And STINK. Oh my, the smell was HORRIBLE. The air now filled with smoke in the dining area, the hallway and lounge.

Throwing the front and back door open to air the place, my mind racing so fast I could barely keep up! What to do about dessert AND get those men upstairs in time for  the movie. You see, the guest didn't know about the movie surprise yet. Oh dear!

I did manage to create a rather speedy and surprisingly tasty replacement dessert to round off the meal. We all but needed gas masks to cope, so I left the doors open while we almost blew off our chairs as the breeze flowed through the building. Once the plates were empty and the meal done, the surprise 'after' was revealed. I have a strong suspicion the males were thrilled to leave me in my murky air to clean up. Some nights are just more memorable than others. This will be good fodder for a laugh at some point later, after corona. When we look back and say, " oh remember that Apple Crumble...!"

I'm looking forward to the next birthday guest.

A wee flash back

I make a point of writing a last blog before year's end- but when you read what I have been up to in my kitchen you will understand why I was stuck for time.

But first- how was your Christmas? Did you eat in, out, have guests, a quiet dinner for two or did the day pass by without any specific upheaval?

Christmas is not the same for everyone, I realise that. For me it is being with family and if that isn't possible, then with the closest friends you want to surround yourself with. Providing of course they want to spend that time with you ( wink wink).

Listening to and looking at the various weather reports, not many countries had, what one might call, the traditional weather pattern expected at the time of year. We certainly didn't.

Funnily enough it was too warm- and not into temperatures as in Australia where one of my sons lives but, we generally have something close to a white Christmas- at least nothing much above 5 degrees. We had 14. And that feels weird.

Our guests were dear friends who otherwise would have spent Christmas within their own homes- not a bad thing, but gathered together we had a great time. Nine of us graced our table and I have to say,  " worth repeating!"

Seeing we knew each other pretty well, I was also aware of likes and dislikes. I stayed clear of fish dishes and had plenty of vegetable choices and in various forms prepared. I had a silky parsnip puree, jellied beetroot and carrot juice, shoe string sweet potato fries and an absolutely yum vegetable terrine. These accompaniments to go with the 5 and 1/2 kg turkey. The cranberry compote had a lovely tawny port added which lifted it to another dimension. Sooo delicious.

I prepared a 6 course meal.... with much love and dedication and I have to say " a proud moment" when the reactions and compliments were freely dancing around the room.

Our guests arrived approx 4 pm and we closed the door after the last guest left at 11:30pm. Guess you could say that we had a great evening.

Christmas, a time of sharing, of merriment and a taste of the holiday spirit. For me, I think of families in a special way. It is a birthday we are commemorating. In this time of refugees and unrest, I think about Mary and her being far away from home, being a 'displaced person' as many mothers now also are. But it is also a time of joy. New life, a promise of things to come.

Last year we moved into our new home on Christmas Eve and believe me, I had NO intention ( or energy) to have a Christmas dinner here. This year I reclaimed the festivities and made them my own once again. Wonderful.

Another few days and the tree and all the trimmings will disappear into storage once again and I can look back on a great festive season. I hope you can too!

Sunday, a day of rest

Today, Sunday, a day of rest. And rest I did. Sure I pottered around a wee bit. I also visited ma.  Ma Netten,  a special relationship.

My husband's first wife died at the age of 45 as a result of her battle with cancer. Her mum and I enjoy a good and respectful relationship together. She is now my mother -in-law.

Ma was a professional sewer. She worked for a local fashion house. Any clothing alteration necessary is therefor in good hands, should you call in her expertise. And I has cause to aske her for help with my full length cape. She had inserted, and very professionally too I might add, arm openings in my cape. I found it really irritating when I wore my cloak and I wanted to have a coffee or hold onto something that I had to "part"  the cloak and subsequently would get cold. Now I have " sleeve holes"  and can stay warm.

We chatted about all sorts of topics and drank two cups of coffee. A Sunday can be a long lonely day for her at times as she has been widowed for quite some years now. A visit is always appreciated and looked forward to.

Leen went to Dordrecht. Every two years there is a " steam weekend". The focus on all steam driven machinery. Boats, trains, cars, tractors - you name it. Appears to be the most intense and broad event of it's type in all northern hemisphere. It attracts people from all over Europe and wider. Why I didn't go...the weather killed it for me. I go for the fun of it and couldn't see the fun of getting rained on, blown about and chilled to the bone ( only 9 degrees today) so I elected to stay home.
http://www.dordtinstoom.nl/home_english.html

Around 4pm I decided I wanted to wallow in a warm bath, taking a glass of port and small bowl of nuts with me.... needless to say my drowsy state ensured I dozed off waking only when Leen came home. Seeing we had invited a friend ( Merie) to tea I shot out of the bath and proceeded to cook dinner,

We had a lovely mellow sort of evening. Merie bringing with her a birthday gift for me - so sweet and thoughtful. It is still pretty chilly out. I have had the central heating on all day and now also switched the electric blanket on. I am quite a positive thinker really - though the thought of this being a foreboding of what is to come....Bbbrrr!

Anyway, I hate to sound boring: but once again, I am pleased with today and all it brought me. I'm off to bed feeling very pleasantly satisfied with today!!

A visit to Zeist

Just made it. After a most enjoyable day out..... We have just arrived home having been to Zeist. Leen is city councillor. Each year all the councillors and supporting staff have a training day in another city or council. The partners are treated to a cultural afternoon be it a guided tour of the city, a museum or like today a manor, or almost castle built in 1686.

Awesome. The weather played it's part so we ( partners) were able to have our coffee outside and after the tour our afternoon wine on the same terrace whilst our dedicated councillors were being kept busy inside listening, sharing and discussing issues related to governing their township in the most efficient manor.

At 5 pm the two parties met and we boarded a bus which would take us to a restaurant where we were to enjoy an evening feast together. I was going to write...meal. But in all honesty I would be selling the chefs and staff short. We were treated to some culinary delights, accompanied by likewise quality wine.

Table talk was enlightening as it was enjoyable. The seating arrangement once again ( this annual event has become one of the year's political highlights in our diaries the past years) well mixed and ought out. Inthink the organisors keep the seating placings recorded so as to make a new planning each year differing each time.

So today was another full and enjoyable day. Starting with my skype with Kylie and Summah, coffee next door but one, child minding next door then off on " our" sojourn to Zeist.

It has occurred to me that since I started writing in my blog each day, I am more concious of the daily happenings and don't have that " gosh the day has flown" feeling. And I don't mean to say that the day drags on and on either. I think this feeling is generated because I am more aware of what I am doing, not in - auto mode - doing things without thinking. Time will tell whether I have this experience all year.. Or whether it is a phase!

Never the less, I am committed to writing daily ( so before midnight) which will on occasion be a challenge to achieve. This is what it is to write in ones diary daily... Only now electronically registered so I cannot cheat with the dates.

With that footnote, I wish everyone a goodnight!