Premature Detonation

The grand old ladies of Athlone are no more. I had never heard the cooling towers referred to in this way until yesterday when I excitedly turned on E News to watch the collapse. Rowland went to a friends house in Pinelands to take photos but being a sensible man he declined the offer of a view from the rooftop.
Our new early morning radio DJ came up with what would have been a good idea. He said that if he was in charge there would have been music, a flypast and a loud countdown. Good idea. Instead what did we get?? well, if you blew your nose 4 minutes before due time you missed the whole thing and had to wait for UTube or the evening news.
What a pity.
Will we miss them? Probably not. I hope the powers that be don't put in a shopping centre but use the area wisely. I listened to Counting Crows cover version of Big Yellow Taxi this morning and we certainly don't need another parking lot.
What I did learn is that most of the rubble will be recycled and used for building, perhaps in a few years time new houses will be built on the site although I'm rather taken with the notion of a solar power park. I saw one on TV the other evening, I think it was in Spain, (you know how it is when you're surfing, you miss the beginning). The area was filled with solar panels, collecting precious rays to be converted into electricity. How good to keep the original purpose of the site - producing electricity - just in a modern eco-friendly fashion.

Only in Cape Town

Yesterday late afternoon I was leaving for home. I stopped at the busy intersection at the top of our street. Always a nightmare for those turning right, fortunately I turn left. In front of me was a truck which appeared to be filled with builders rubble and odd bits and pieces. Two young men (apparently with bums of steel) were sitting on the rubble. A much older man, wearing once white overall pants and lots of grey hair, came up to the truck looking to catch a lift. As he was negotiating his climb on to the back the two young men appeared to be giving lots of info on their destination but strangely didn't lift a finger to help the old guy climb aboard.
As the driver lurched forward on his suicide mission to clear the intersection the hitchhiker rolled and turned, sat down and flashed me a brilliant smile and a thumbs up.
Sweet.

done and dusted

Cue up the triumphant Rocky theme and picture me running up the steps.
After six years, I have finally watched the last episode of LOST.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series and it's a pity we couldn't be on the same timeline as the rest of the world with the finale, but given the theme perhaps that's appropriate - my own sideways story.
So thanks to all concerned, well acted, well told and well confusing, so many notches above your average soapy.
Roll on the next new concept.

Tuesday Tip

As you know, I'm really fond of cooking and when I've had a long day at work I find it most relaxing to potter around the kitchen making dinner. Other times, especially on a Saturday I like to prepare as much as I can prior to cooking. Peeling, chopping, prepping.
Two things that don't enjoy being peeled and left out in the air are onions or garlic. That's just one of the reasons I don't buy that packaged, chopped garlic that smells vaguely of bad breath.
Here is the solution. Measure the amount of oil, probably olive, that you plan to use, put it into a jug and throw in your freshly chopped garlic (or onion). As long as all the pieces are covered in oil oxygen can't get to them and they remain fresh and tasty.
Being in a jug just makes it easier to handle once you start cooking.
Bon Appetite

The Dinner Party

We used to entertain quite often but, as the years go by, lifestyles change and child-rearing sometimes takes over. I was searching through a drawer the other day and came across a notebook from the seventies, in it I wrote both recipes and dinner party lists. The guests and the menu.
As an aside, I bought the book at Stuttafords, back in the glory days when they were the only ones to import (for then) exciting goodies and a pilgrimage to Claremont was highly anticipated. Nowadays of course Stutts is just another store and that exciting stuff is commonplace. Sad.
But, I digress. Our very first "dinner party" had but one guest. We'd been married for a few weeks and Rowland invited a friend of his to dinner. The (one course) meal was some sort of beef mince dish and to my horror, our guest finished his food and then proceeded to lick the plate clean. A burp would have sufficed.
As the years rolled by the dinners became more adventurous and we began to realise that there are the entertainers and the entertainees, but no matter, we have always enjoyed our role.
Infamous meals include the one where one guest arrived slightly plastered and when his wife told him the mushrooms (which he hated) were in fact kidneys (which he loved) he wolfed down his meal. Sadly it was returned to sender a short while later.
In the early cellphone days a rather self-important guy took "a call" in another room and on his return asked me to heat up his Gazpacho. Or how about the time number one son (who knew no shame) ate the whole salami that was part of my appetizer. Good times.
We like to mix and match our guests, young and old these days so that the conversation doesn't dwell on retirement plans and medication. Besides, we're pretty young at heart and plan to stay that way.
I believe the Queen Mum was still hosting dinner parties when she was 100 years old, admittedly with somewhat more help than our homestead but, who's to say we shan't be doing the same?
More wine anyone?

Fifteen minutes of fame

It's a funny world. Thank goodness the slow movement seems to be gaining momentum.
Once upon a time we had real celebrities, the wow factor was there. My mother had a friend whose cousin touched Frank Sinatra's elbow when he was walking into a theatre. Back then that was "WOW".
Now, you'd best touch Justin whatshisname's elbow quickly because the rising stars don't seem to last long any more. Is it because there are so many people in the world that there's a small window of opportunity for each or is it the ever shortening attention span of the modern fan?
As you know, I enjoy other 15 minute moments and today I read about two that gave me much hope for the future.
An enzyme has been discovered, Ikaits. Scientist believe that if they can replicate its action (I think) they will be able to produce a washing powder that works in cold water, thus eliminating the need for hot water laundry. "Pish" you say, "most of Africa washes in cold water anyway". This might well be but if the entire world did the humble laundry in cold water it's estimated it would give a reduction of 18 million tonnes of CO2 per annum, the equivalent of taking 4-5 million cars off the road. Now to me that's "WOW".
How about "The Giving Pledge". Did you know there are some 403 billionaires in the US of A? Well, 40 of them have pledged half their wealth to charities, either in their lifetime or after they die. These people have been encouraged to discuss their wealth with their families and make decision for the future. The idea was set up by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and includes the likes of George Lucas and Michael Bloomberg. "WOW". Those two small articles were far more newsworthy than the idiot waitress who dissed customers on facebook or what kind of decor the latest incarcerated star will be having in her cell.
It also got me to thinkin' about angels after reading about Fu Fighters. Not the highly talented group who lasted only a little longer than 15 minutes, but the unidentified flying objects seen during World War 2. It's worth taking a look in Wikipaedia to read about numerous sightings, on both sides, of objects that interacted with fighter planes. Then there's the story of the angels during the battle of Mons. The story varies with the telling from angels protecting the allies to angels over the entire battle. I personally can't imagine angels taking sides but I can imagine then covering a battlefield.
So, two world wars and two different phenomina, were they both UFOs or were they both angelic hosts?? The stories have certainly lasted longer than the alloted 15 minutes.