EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN! HOP ON YOUR BICYCLE, MICHAEL! RECYCLE!

The “new again” excludes me. I’ve not yet tried renewal revival or rejuvenation experimentation; perhaps I should, but I’m still enjoying my first childhood. To date, my second one hasn’t yet come a-knocking. At least, I don’t think it has. I don’t recall it announcing its arrival. Maybe I didn't hear it the day it came knocking on my door; although, as far as I'm aware, my hearing isn't on the wane! Perhaps, I did hear it, but chose to ignore it. I hate unexpected, uninvited visitors, so the latter could very well be what happened.

I suppose I could do with a retread. My exterior is showing some wear and tear, which is an obvious clue, but my mind stubbornly refuses to succumb to the ravages of the rapidly passing years. Rather than go for the "nip and tuck" and a jab of Botox, I just skirt around all mirrors and shop windows without casting a glance their way...simple...and painless! That's no reflection on me!

Be gone, Demon of Aging! You’re not welcome here!

Repetitively we’re told to recycle; reuse; re-adapt; reprocess; recover; salvage; re-utilise; recondition; renew; replenish; regurgitate. Well, maybe not “regurgitate”! I got carried away. So many "re's" - it's hard to keep tab!

Knowing when to stop is, at times, a problem.

George Orwell warned about “Big Brother” in his novel, “1984”, but he failed to mention “Big Father” and “Big Mother”.

The media is replete with reports handing out myriad instructions on how we should conduct our lives. I wish “they” would stop treating me like a child. Repeatedly, we’re told what we should or shouldn’t do. Have the mysterious “they” nothing better to do with their time other than conceive wild and woolly ideas? The rest of us are told to follow, like sheep, the outcome of their researches; and often, those outcomes are disproved within a few years! The results of many researches are pretty feral; some simply hideous! Repeatedly, it’s blatantly obvious some subjects don’t need researching.

I don’t need to be told to recycle; at least not have it shoved down my throat, day in; day out! I agree with recycling. I grew up in an era when little was wasted. We recycled long before recycling became the “in” word. We didn’t need the so-called "experts" constantly nagging at us. I even recycle air here at home! Air comes in; air goes out, then it wafts around outside before re-entering, at which point I inhale it again – often! I exhale regularly, too. So the cycle continues!

Recycling extends beyond decency or understanding in some areas. For instance, our law courts. Our courts are guilty of this extremely disturbing transgression. By handing out their lenient, laughable sentences, the courts appear intent on recycling criminals! It’s a joke, but, like Queen Victoria (not in appearance), I’m not in the least bit amused. Every time I hear of or read about the latest frivolous judicial judgments, I become frustrated and very angry.

It’s beyond my imagination what our hard working police must feel! I bet they’ve little hair left! Reprocessing should be put in place and re-utilised as far as our court system is concerned; a few old-fashioned stiff, unforgiving penalties from the past should be recycled. They wouldn’t go astray if renewed!

I’ll cease beating my drum ..for now! I'll put it and my soap-box away...again, for now!

Let’s dig deep in those storage boxes gathering dust in our sheds. It’s time to regroup; time to re-adapt the recipes of our grandmothers. Let’s cook the recipes as the instructions instruct.

Enough with all the fancy-dancy, Nancy!

Asparagus Roll-Ups: Drain 24 canned asparagus spears; marinate in 1/4c French dressing. Smear 24 slices wholemeal bread with cheese spread; sprinkle over paprika. Trim crusts from bread; put asparagus on top; roll up bread; arrange on pan with last turn of bread on base; place under grill until golden all over.

Baked Drumsticks: Preheat oven, 218C; lightly oil roasting pan. Combine 1/4c mayonnaise, 1/4c Dijon or grain mustard and 2tsp Worcestershire sauce. Combine 3/4c dry bread or cornflake crumbs and 1pkt French onion soup powder; add 2tbs finely-chopped chives. Coat 6 chicken drumsticks in mayo mixture; then dip in crumb mixture; coat well. Chill 1hr. Place drumsticks on roasting pan; bake 20-25mins or until cooked through.

Pot Roast: Brown a large hunk of topside/chuck/round/rump on all sides; remove from pan. In pan, sauté until golden, 3-4 diced parsnips, 3-4 carrots, chopped into chunks, 8 small whole onions, 6-8 tomatoes, quartered, a couple of celery stalks, cut into pieces and 4 potatoes, halved.; remove from pan; add dollop of butter to pan; add 1/4c plain flour; stir until browned; add beef stock to cover beef - quantity depending on beef size; also add some red wine, (optional), toss in a dash of Balsamic vinegar, 3tbls Worcestershire, 2tbls tomato paste, 400g tomato puree, about a tablespoon of sugar and some herbs; season; return to heat; stir until thickened a bit. Put meat in large pot; pour over sauce to cover beef; bring to boil; cover; reduce heat; simmer gently 2hrs; add the vegetables; simmer 30-35mins.

Chocolate Blancmange: Combine 1-1/2tbls cornflour with a little milk. In saucepan over heat, add 2tbls grated dark chocolate and 1tsp sugar to 473ml milk; when almost boiling, stir in blended cornflour; cook 5-6mins or until thickens. Pour into mould that’s been rinsed in cold water; Chill to set; turn out to serve.