It takes a village!

LEVEL 4 HERE WE COME It's been a strange couple of years in this 2020, don't you think? Killer virus threatening to wipe out the world. Entire countries ground to a standstill by an invisible force of nature.  Crumbling economies, joblessness. Grim reports all round or is it? 😨 People have been stuck at home now for over a month.  Family time is now actually spent with families instead answering emails on cellphones and "just checking" laptops. Yes, there is a lot of good that has come out of this lockdowns.  One of the most important lessons perhaps is that we need each other.  Money can be made again.  Economies will rise and crumble but people will bounce back, like we always do. 💑👪 That's the beauty of the human race.  We are resilient and resourceful. One of the things that I know has been a major struggle for my kids is the lack of Domino's Pizza.   Italian Pizzeria Ok, so we don't have take out...

WORLD OF SCONES Once a month while growing up, my parents would bundle us up in the bus or taxi and chart us off to our grandparents for lunch and afternoon tea,just for the day. Afternoon tea was without fail, coconut donuts, scones and Hungarian jam tart.  You got a piece of each and you had to finish it all.  As I grew up it became my monthly torture. It took years of my adult live to rediscover that I actually like scones again. But it was mostly because I discovered a world of different types of scones. Yes, there is, I kid you not. There's sweet or savoury; filled or plain; round, square or triangle; Irish, British ......the list is endless. I had only ever eaten the plain round ones filled with jam and here was a whole world of scones. Some I tried were fantastic, others were best loved by their own creators . But rushing to work in the early crisp winter mornings in Pretoria, I used to pass by an African mama who made the most wonde...

END OF PART 1 For many of us who had planned our lockdown grocery shopping, we would be reaching the leftovers  stage right about now. We've cooked and baked, fried and braaied. Learnt how to sauté, flambé and other fancy french terms.  Yes, we could make it on Masterchef or so we thought we wanted.  Turns out this cooking for a living gig is not for everyone. Coming up with innovative ways to serve basic foods is an  exhausting and thankless job.  You've just served your masterpiece which was scoffed down in under 10 min. "That was great, mum.  What's for supper?"  Aaarg!  One of the big lessons for most of us during this lockdown should be that we, households waste a mountain of food. For example, food that needs to go into the bin, gets a special place in my freezer.  I hate maggots in my bin.  So come Bin Pickup Day, I take out my frozen heap of food waste, dump the unrecognizable blob into the black bag and leave it ...

WE ARE THE WORLD I don't envy our President.  He has had to make some really tough decisions and face pretty harsh criticism in these 30 days.  Yes, the majority of us understand and applaud his decision regardless of the mammoth task it seems,yet there are those of us who can't seem to think beyond themselves! These people can't move beyond thinking about only themselves, they have an "I" mentality.  I need.... I want.... I have.... I must have I, I, I,... They roam the streets, flout the lockdown and don't give a damn about anyone but themselves.  "Stay at home!" I want to shout out my window.  It's fine if they don't want to live, but don't they care about bringing the virus home to their loved ones or spreading it more so to others who have genuine reasons for being out. And buying a 2L Coke is NOT a valid reason. Yet if there is at least one lesson we take away from this Covid-19 pandemic, it is that the world do...

I'M MISSING MY HOT WINGS I've always liked vegetables and red meat but everything else is a blahh taste for me.  And don't get me started on chicken! The smell of chicken, cooked and raw makes me nauseous.  I feel like hurling the moment that pong hits my nostrils yet hot-wings are my cryptonite. If I was Superman, the villain would just have to wave a good hot wing in front of me to render me compliant, and yes there is such a thing as a bad hot wing. Now what's really weird about this, is that I can't stand the taste of anything else on the menu at Chicken Licken or KFC.  I shallow-breathe when I'm near or in their establishments so why do I love their wings?  No clue.  Equally perplexing is that once I've gotten to the 4th or 5th wing, I start to get that hurling sensation again and the taste just goes out the window- so, yes 5 hot wings are my limit. And now with the lockdown, if you're like my kids (or me), the hot-wing craving ad...

OUR DEFINITION OF SECURITY Our view of security has been threatened.  Every thing that makes us feel safe and secure: jobs, money and big business has all been turned on it's head. Our security blankets have been yanked away, leaving us feeling disconnected and unnerved.  Unsure of where or how we fit in, people have formed 3 very interesting groups. Group 1- those who are embracing the time this lockdown has provided to get closer as a family, participating in activities and learning to work as a team, moms are trying new recipes with their kids while dads are showing their offspring how to fix and maintain their property, they're tackling their to-do list with passion and fun. Awesome! Group 2 - those who have decided there is no lockdown, trying to carry on as normal, and are baffled by police presence, the shop closures and the annoyance of their neighbors . Beware of these guys.  They're probably going to contract the virus and play pass it on. Group...

BUT SCHOOLS ARE OUT WORKING TOGETHER  Yesterday was supposed to be back-to-school day for my little monsters but the lockdown has put a damper on not just their plans but mine as well.  I've had to rethink all the work that I had scheduled.  My to-do list seemed to have gotten longer until I realised : 1. there are less clothes in the laundry, ergo less washing, less water and less ironing 2. there is less food wastage because in my house, you eat all your food until it's finished and I don't care how many mealtimes it takes to do it! Which I cant do with uneaten lunchboxes. 3. once the kids know the schedule, in between the fussing and bickering, everything gets done.  4. My to-do list has more hands to help me 5. We all get to sit down at mealtimes and talk to each other 6. I have help to do those things I've been putting off So here are a few tips to get everything done (and get some learning in as well) while the kids are at home. Check out my ED...

LOCKDOWN DAY 5 Just survived the weekend with everyone at home.  The tears and screaming, mostly from me has been forgotten and hopefully forgiven in the early morning light of a new day.  A weekday to be precise. I can handle the kids.  I can handle a house full of kids but add my husband to that mix and it's a whole different ballgame.  I'm not talking about the gap between football and soccer, I'm talking soccer and water-polo! He's a handful on his own.  And yes, God-forgive-me, but I'm glad he's part of essential services because I don't know if both of us would survive this lockdown otherwise.  Okay, so I guess you may think I'm exaggerating but one thing about Leon is that he has itchy feet.  He can't stay at home, even on the weekends.  He'll take a walk to the shops or the fleamarket. And if he can't go out, he makes everyone crazy. I have 3 boisterous girls which means that sometimes I have to make myself louder to be hea...

A PERSON IS SMART Officially, today is the start of South Africa's 21-day lockdown.  Judging from all the people still doing their own thing on the streets, I don't think we've ever had one before. A person, you see is smart but people are stupid.  When we're in a crowd, we worry about what others think about us, how we look, how we sound.  Instead of being safe and considerate to others, people will go to the shops without masks or gloves on . So think about the last few days in SA and the people-logged shops: how many of them did you witness wearing their masks and gloves while shopping?  Hmm, a minuscule number, I bet. How many were sick and didn't know it? But no worries, we'll all know it soon enough cos those coronavirus or Covid-19 numbers are climbing rapidly. Patient 31 and her 5000 This is how fast it spreads, people. Patient 31 has infected 5000 people-do you think she thought she even knew 5000 people?! Be safe and stay at home and let...

POTATOES It's the kitchen staple worth befriending, beloved the world over and such an interesting fella. With the highest production and consumption rate in the world, potatoes are undoubtedly the world's go-to and a staple food in every kitchen.  So maybe it's time you get comfortable and become a little more than friends. Potatoes have gotten a bad rap from the health and fitness communities. Choose sweet potatoes or other root vegetables, they say. It's healthier, they say.  Well let me tell you,  adding carrots or sweet potatoes to my mutton curry is a surefire way to start a fight in my house. And the bewildered potato is like whaaat? I'm not unhealthy, guys. Here's my profile pic, don't I look good? But studies show that it is how we prepare the potato that actually determines whether it's healthy or not.  I mean try deep-frying carrot sticks or broccoli heads in oil and then top them off with loads of sugary sauces and heaps of salt...

AND IN THIS CORNER, PROTEIN-PACKED BEANS.. The humble bean does not exactly make you drool when seen on the shelves in their dry  unappealing form.  Yet in a well-cooked curry, it is tastier than most meat dishes.   Kids love beans- it gives them an excuse to toot-toot and for all the toot-toot jokes!  Not only is it an excellent source of protein but it is a staple in any diet and there's a variety to choose from. For those hungry stomachs that need to be filled while  you cast a wary eye on your dwindling grocery supply, beans (pulses) are an excellent addition to your cupboard.   So choose a packet of your favourite beans or try different ones and let's cook.  The recipe below can be adapted to suit any beans that you want to cook.  I've used sugar beans to make little bunny chows for supper but you can eat them with roti, rice or bread. DURBAN SUGAR BEANS CURRY You will need: 1 cup dried sugar...

COOKING DURING A LOCK-DOWN The President has just announced the 21-day lock-down and I'm sure every parent everywhere felt their brain go How on earth are we going to survive our families, with our kids and spouses in such closed quarters for 21 days? Not to mention what do I cook? Don't fret. Help is on hand.  With a few rules in place, you AND your family will survive and thrive. Your grocery cupboard and your budget will also survive with just a few minor tweaks. Rules for Lockdown Be kind and considerate to each other ALWAYS. Try understanding the other person's point of view BEFORE you react. Give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Maybe s/he didn't mean it in a negative way. Before you say anything, ask yourself is this really necessary? When the inevitable argument occurs, stop. Think to yourself: do I need to be right? DO I get a prize for being right?  The answer is  NO. Your family relationships and your sanity are more important ...

LOVE IT OR LOATHE IT Bread and I have a love-hate relationship.  I love it and it hates me. Yes, you heard right.  It hates me, it makes me bloated and lethargic and chesty. But I can't resist freshly baked bread or any good baguette or ciabatta. Slathered with butter and jam, it's heaven in a slice.  I know I shouldn't eat it but that how strong this love is. But now buying bread while on this Covid19 lockdown😕?! It's right up there with fighting in a war and swimming with sharks- no cages. I mean how do we stop the virus if it's on the bread? The shops, that frightened voice in my head says, are filled with potentially infected people- you just don't know.  As  I push my disinfectant-smelling trolley to the bakery section to buy a loaf or 2 of bread, I find myself eyeing everyone with suspicion.  I reach out to grab a loaf of bread when I meet the eye of one of the bakers behind the counter.  My mind drifts back a few mont...

CORONAVIRUS , SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND MY KIDS 😱 As if all that's happening in the world and whole countries being on lock-down isn't enough, parents have to now worry about finding creative solutions to keep hungry, bored children at home, entertained and fed.  Personally, I was not cut out to be a teacher. I don't have the patience or tolerance. I definitely feel unprepared. I can handle irate Board members, finicky CEOs of major companies, confidently talk to ambassadors and ministers but my own kids?  Now that's scary. Precisely how I feel.  And then it's the constant hole in their stomachs like "Didn't I just see you eating 5 minutes ago?" As I waiver between  guilt for denying my child life-giving food (apparently they will starve if their mouths are not continually eating and I'm a terrible mom for even thinking of restricting them 😒),  worry over how your already over-stretched budget is going to handle this onsla...