To Be...





Wednesday 27/2/2013

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Diary and Notes

Another day - another dinner. You'd think it would all get pretty tedious, but the variety keeps me sane.

It can be hard work looking after children and there is one thing above all that drives me mad: "You be..."

I hope you have never experienced this - it is ceaseless and infuriating.

When I was five, I used to think little girls were just horrid. I hated the games they played and they seemed to be as far from fun as it was possible to be. They never played proper games; war, football, war*. They played horrid games. There was skipping - no, throwing balls against the wall and catching it while singing a song - No, doing handstands and cartwheels - NO and worst of all pretending to do mundane crap that if you had to do it in real life if would make you yawn - NO!

Little girls were horrid - they used to sing songs about how little boys were made of slugs and snails, they chased you around the playground trying to kiss you and never, never, gave you any of their sweets.

And now I am a dad and I still remember, I remember the pretending games, only now I have to play.

Today, Eve and I pretended to go to school for about an hour. We made little houses out of blocks and Eve said to me: "You be Dena and I'll be Zara" then gave me a block to play with. She also dressed up as a princess and I had "To Be" a king while Olias (crawling around oblivious to the whole affair) had "TO BE" a prince.

Mind numbing.

I have things to do - my things. I'd like "TO BE" doing my job. I'd like to be sitting on top of a mountain gazing at the sky.

I don't want "TO BE" a king. I don't want "TO BE" Dena or Zara or any of the little girls Eve wants me to be.

But still I play. I try, I smile.

I know it will end soon - Isis did this and it passed, Olias will do it and it will pass, all things will pass. - but for now it seems like the worst game in the world. Can't we play marbles? I know how to do that.

*In my school, playing war was almost the only activity boys ever did at play time and unless you were a young boy pre-1980 you probably won't understand.

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Meatballs today, South American style. They were very good, easy to make and raised a smile. No horse though, I made my own. The Jerry Lee Lewis video is good - this man must have been 200 years old at the time - great balls of fire.


Menu
  • Albondigas
  • Rice
  • Salad
  • Tortillas

  • Banana and Cherry Cake (Thanks Toni - excellent)


    Ingredients*

    Albondigas
    450g Minced Beef
    1 Onion
    2 Cloves Garlic
    1 TBSP Olive Oil
    1 Can Chopped Tomatoes
    Handful of Fresh Coriander
    1 tsp Smoked Paprika
    ½ tsp Chilli Powder
    ½ tsp Cumin
    ½ tsp Oregano
    ¼ tsp Cinnamon
    Salt and Pepper


    Preparation

  • First make the sauce: Dice ½ an onion and fry in a little olive oil. Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, some chilli, paprika and cumin. Fry a little longer then add the chopped tomatoes. Simmer gently.
  • Next make the meatballs: Dice the rest of the onion and mix with the beef, a little paprika and chilli, salt, pepper and some chopped coriander. Form into small balls and drop into the simmering sauce. When all the meatballs are in add a little oregano and transfer to the oven to bake (with a lid on) for ½ an hour. Excellent with a little grated cheese.

    Today’s Ratings:

    Isis: Yuk.
    Eve: Yuk.
    Olias: Yum.

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    *All quantities are very approximate and for a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids aged 5 years, 3 years & 8 months)
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