I DON’T HAVE THE ANSWERS; BUT I'M SURE I CAN FIND THEM!

Alice & Her Friends...Painted by me 5 years ago for two of my grand-nieces

Moreton Bay Bugs

Reminiscence

 Time spent pondering the future and now
    While the past fades rapidly I know not how
  Today I spent learning about me as a whole
  And a peaceful calmness enveloped my soul
Once torn into a dark mass of dismal pieces
     As fond memories revisit the shadow decreases

                                                                                               By Lee

Inexplicably some incidents and some people stay locked away in our fathomless memory bank never again to see the light of day; lost; forgotten forever; while, for whatever reasons other memories of people, places, events, words, thoughts remain crystal clear.

Perhaps the former is not actually the case.  Maybe our memories of every experience; of every person we’ve met throughout our life are filed away in the back regions of our mental (not metal) filing cabinets. Bookmarked like bookmarked sites on our computers; patiently waiting to be re-visited; re-discovered; often by accident. Not discarded, but merely stored away from sight; out of our conscious mind; not deleted from our subconscious mind - our hard drive.

When I go through my computer’s lengthy bookmark list I discover myriad sites considered once to be interesting; worth setting aside for a rainy day.  Like my list I’ve a gazillion memories bookmarked in my mind; filed away for that very day - whatever the weather - whether damp or dehydrated…for a time when all will be re-revealed. 

What needs to be done is for me to locate the key to my mental filing cabinet.  It’s around here somewhere.

I may have not yet found the key to my inner vault, but often I do find a trigger that opens a locked door while in search of a particular item to satisfy a thought impulse. Soon thereafter I unexpectedly discover more doors I’m unable to resist entering.  Powerless, I’m led along corridors and through entrances that have remained closed for years.  Unwittingly I become waylaid. An unforeseen exploration abducts my attention. The minor search activated by my original thought multiplies in proportion.

Having veered off track I probe deeper and deeper, lost in the wonderment of discovery; of renewed recollections.

Similar to Alice during her journey through Wonderland when she followed the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole, my curiosity becomes aroused. So, too, are detailed misplaced memories about past events and deeds; of people I’ve met.  And, like Alice I become “curiouser and curiouser”.

Helpless against the revelations, intrigued, I’m guided down paths I initially had no intention of strolling.

The definitive quarry of my primary quest is unconsciously dismissed. Entranced, I wander along interesting avenues tracking clues impossible to ignore.

Time spent; lost, but not wasted on re-awoken memories; and then, continuing forth, being directed onto others.

Engrossed in fascinating discoveries - re-discoveries - minutes, then hours fly by. All too often my detours - my digressions - cause me to forget my initial goal (it’s been put on the back-burner; bookmarked to be dealt with later - if I remember what it actually was).

The unplanned deviations awaken forgotten memories filed away in the deepest recesses of my mind.

The rekindling of past experiences; of people once met; some never seen again, is welcomed; often with tear-filled eyes.

A photo, unobserved for years, uncovered by chance amongst unrelated memorabilia.

A letter on yellowed, ragged paper; read multiple times upon initial receipt, stowed away in a safe place located unintentionally; re-read.

Memories stimulated of times forgotten.

Once cherished moments re-ignited; old flames remembered with warm comfort, not cold.

Roasted Leek-Zucchini-Bacon Soup: Heat 1-1.2tbs olive oil and 30g butter in roasting pan over med-heat; add 5 washed, sliced leeks, 2 large, coarsely-chopped onions, 1-1/2 chopped garlic cloves, 1 juniper berry, 4 black peppercorns, 1 whole clove and 1 bay leaf; cook 3mins. Add 3 large, coarsely-chopped zucchinis, 2 sprigs thyme and 6 trimmed, chopped bacon rashers; cook 2mins; transfer pan to oven; roast at 180C, 40mins; stir often. Transfer vegetables to large pot; add 1ltr chicken stock; simmer until reduced by half. Add 600ml cream; simmer 20mins. Process until smooth; pass through sieve; transfer to saucepan; season; bring to boil; serve.

Seared Bugs & Asparagus Fettuccine: Melt 30g butter in saucepan; cook 2 finely-diced white onions and 4 crushed garlic cloves over med-heat until soft and translucent. Add 400ml vermouth; deglaze pan; add 80ml Thai fish sauce, 80ml sweet chill sauce and 1ltr cream; bring to boil; simmer until reduced by half; add 400g raw, shredded Moreton Bay bug meat; cook 3mins or until almost cooked. Add 800g al dente fettuccine, 12 slightly-cooked asparagus spears, 2tbs chopped basil leaves, 1tbs chopped coriander; toss over med-high heat 1 to 2mins.

Roasted Mustard Rabbit: Cover 1 whole rabbit, cut into pieces (or chicken if you’re chicken) with 1c crème fraîche, 3/4c Dijon mustard or wholegrain, 1tbs each chopped fresh thyme and sage, 85g thinly-sliced pancetta, cut into thin strips, 4 thinly-sliced garlic cloves and 2 bay leaves.  Mix well with your hands; cover; let sit at room temp 1hr; or chill overnight. Spread pieces in single layer in oven-proof pan; top with marinade; roast in 175C oven about 45mins; remove rabbit and set aside; put pan on stove-top over med-heat; add 1c chick stock or white wine and 1/2c heavy cream; lower heat; simmer; reduce sauce until thick and creamy; pour over rabbit/chicken