The grandchildren are now all of three years old. There are three months between them, and right now you can still just about notice a difference in age. Next year Blossom's three-months advantage over Daphne will probably have disappeared as far as perception goes. I remember a time when I was three-and-a-half (I KNOW that I was three-and-a-half) when a small friend and I (probably) made mud pies 'down there', near the allotments. A shadow appeared 'up there', on street level, and we looked up. Two big girls were looking down at us, and my friend said, 'They are fourteen!'. I realized even then that I'd never be that old.
Talking of which I would like to confess that the old spine is becoming a little more crooked every year, and that hip joint - I could swear I hear it squeaking every so often, and it'll be soon that others hear it too; I generally feel a little heavier as in 'gravity'. Am I the only one to suspect that earth gravity is slowly increasing? Take me to the moon...
Short of moon gravity, we have something rather civilized in Peru: a law that allows anyone pregnant, women with babies, the infirm or simply anyone over 60 to be served immediately at a 'preferential' counter - be it the Post Office, a bank, official places like passport offices, consulates etc. I admit to feeling guilty from time to time when I 'jump' a queue of probably hard-working men and women just because I can. Still, it's a blessing and helps that gravity problem and the hip joints.
In order to get my Peruvian passport sorted I had to go to various places where they slowly cobbled together all the stuff I needed to make it happen. I am not sure at which of the stages I found myself actually queuing to get served at one of those old-dearie counters when I was somewhat surprised that one person in the small queue was a young woman, not visibly pregnant, no babies in tow, no wooden leg, and the uniform policing the arrangement seemed a little baffled as well and called her out. 'Pero tengo niños pequeños' (I have small children), she said. The uniform: '¿Donde están?' She, 'En casa.' (At home). It takes all sorts.
In Madrid I can ride the Metro, many local trains and all buses for just over 10 euros per month and sometimes, when I look my worst, somebody may even get up to let me sit. Those polite young men (and often even young women) are usually Latin Americans. They still teach them good manners over here.
Even though I love to sit down in public transport vehicles, I don't think I have quite become one of those whingers yet, 'It was all so much better when I was young,' because it wasn't. When I was young we were hung-up and ignorant regarding the important things in life like sex, sex and sex. We didn't even have decent clothes because the fashion houses hadn't discovered the 'young market' yet, and we either had to wear stuff that made us look 40 or smocks that made us look 12. Our mothers all looked as though there were about 99 and wore flowerpot hats.
Now, at 75, I can walk in the street in leggins, boots and something long and lose and nobody will whistle. Well, nobody will whistle, ain't that the truth. SMILE.
This is a warm-up blog on the new site. I'll add some cute photos at the end and hope you are into cute - at least a little bit.
During May and June I befriended Madrid again and all who sail in her, and soaked up London and surroundings, my green and wet home (London has become 'home' for me), and in Germany I even drove past my old house and I looked up at the window from where my parents would always wave to me until I rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
It is a privilege to be able to have the best of both worlds.
Peru is becoming known for its wonderful cuisine (and many other things). I admit to being partial to Peruvian food and missed it when I was a-wandering. So let me not forget this time and post another altogether wonderful recipe, hoping I'm not repeating myself.
Oh, dear, I nearly forgot the bad joke:
CONFUCIUS DID NOT SAY...
- Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.
- Passionate kiss, like spider web, leads to undoing of fly.
- Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.
- Squirrel who runs up a woman's leg will not find nuts.
- Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
- Man who runs in front of car gets tired. Man who runs behind car gets exhausted.
- Man who eats many prunes gets good run for money.
- War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left.
- Man who fight with wife all day get no piece at night.
- It takes many nails to build a crib but only one screw to fill it.
- Man who drives like hell is bound to get there.
- Man who stands on toilet is high on pot.
- Man who live in glass house should change clothes in basement.
- Man who fish in other man's well often catch crabs.
Finally CONFUCIUS DID SAY. . ...
"A lion will not cheat on his wife, but a Tiger Wood!"
CHICKPEAS WITH FENNEL AND GREEN PEAS
Ingredients :
1 1/2 cups dry chickpeas
8 cups vegetable stock
4 garlic cloves, mashed
1/2 cup diced fresh red pepper
1 teaspoon vegetable oil (olive oil will do just fine)
2 pounds tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 pounds fresh fennel bulbs, trimmed and chopped
2 medium onions, chopped (white or red - in Peru they use mostly red ones)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh green peas
Preparation:
Serve hot with white rice.
Enjoy and for more go to http://www.yanuq.com/english/index.htm
Ingredients :
1 1/2 cups dry chickpeas
8 cups vegetable stock
4 garlic cloves, mashed
1/2 cup diced fresh red pepper
1 teaspoon vegetable oil (olive oil will do just fine)
2 pounds tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 pounds fresh fennel bulbs, trimmed and chopped
2 medium onions, chopped (white or red - in Peru they use mostly red ones)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh green peas
Preparation:
- Place the chickpeas in a pot with enough water and soak overnight. Drain and rinse.
- In a large pot, stir together the drained chickpeas and the vegetable stock. Mix in two cloves of mashed garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes, or until chickpeas are tender.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the remaining garlic, tomatoes, and basil in the skillet, and cook for two minutes - or just until the basil has wilted. Remove from heat, set aside.
- Mix the fennel, red pepper and onions in the pot with the chickpeas. Season with salt. Continue cooking for about 15 minutes. Mix in the tomatoes, basil, and peas, continue cooking for another five minutes.
Serve hot with white rice.
Enjoy and for more go to http://www.yanuq.com/english/index.htm