h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I keep a big diary on my desk, and it contains any important dates and appointments (or ballet classes, or rehearsal schedules...)

Daughter is very good at updating it, so at least I know where she's supposed to be.

I meant to add when talking about teaching children to cook, I encouraged my son as well - he's now a student and so having to fend for himself. But he always enjoyed cooking, and living on a tight budget is forcing him to become more inventive with what he creates. I think he finds it impresses the ladies, being able to turn out an impressive meal!

Amen to that.

My mother was a great person to watch cook. I remember learning my first biology lessons from her - watching her clean fish (she showed me the internal organs, the eggs...) and cut up a whole chicken from the market (although I knew she could kill a live chicken and pluck it, I never saw this)...

We used few written recipes and no standard measuring cups. It was 'watch and learn'.

I have found this helpful - when you move to a new country, and all the food is different, you go from electric stove to propane, from corn oil to olive oil, when you haven't got much money, being inventive and having a grasp of basics stands you in good stead.

Oh yes - I made sure my boys knew how to do a white sauce, sponge cake, yeast dough, basic stew, lentil/pea soup and roast potatoes. They were also taught to sew, but I don't think the little one can remember how to do that.

OTOH middle one makes some of his own clothes (rather eccentric designs, but if they were ordinary, you could buy them anyway).

What I am pretty sure about is that they do not behave as described above when out or with friends and will, for example, in a restaurant, pour the other people's drinks before their own.

If you're going to pour all the drinks anyway, you might as well pour your own last. You're not going to get to it any faster by pouring it first.

TRiG.

>>> Did you never see Bob Dylan and his cards? <<< (Pheroneous II)

do you mean... like this?


http://dylan.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/messages/HG07-463V-ZEU1-FR32-CW3F?commentor-name=Pheroneous%20II%20et%20al&[email protected]

Absolutely brilliant fluffy!!

And exactly what I meant (only more so!)

Thanks

Success: son #2 was preparing some food when I got home today, and then he came to me and told me it was finished and I should have some.

Maybe I should have talked to the boys long ago.

good for you. and your son

Mainly good for me.

here and now yes, but in the long run it is good for all (wo)mankind

And did you have some? What did he cook?

Pasta with ruccola and cheese.

Very yummy.

And I agree, Pierce, on the long run, it will be good for my son, too.

Sounds yummy! Well done

B'El, I have written my response on my journal, so as not to your readers. It probably won't help, but my thoughts are with you, as I fully understand the situation. and I am to hear you are still having major Kitchen conundrums. Or suchlike!



MMF

That's a great outcome. Good for you and good for your son.

Thanks, all.

I just hope it doesn't wear off again.

Since I read your journal I have been considering what I would have done if *husband* walked past me with a plate containing two chicken burgers and he hadn't offered to give me one (or ask me if I wanted one in the first place)


I've have said shrilly "Thank you darling!" and taken one off the plate.

By the way, did he wash up his own plate?

I'd like to think so!

We have a dishwasher, thank goodness.

My mother used to say, 'I have a dishwasher' - and point to me.

When I went away to college, my sisters took over. But one day, when I visited my folks in their new home (another state), I noticed that my sister was not washing up after supper, so I went to help my mother.

My mother explained: my sister was at that awkward teenager stage...after one broken dish too many, she was banned from the kitchen until her coordination improved.