QUANDO QUANDO QUANDO

Sorry about the earworm - but it’s time for a snippet of trivia in case you feel like playing a game of Trivial Pursuit over the weekend...or even if you don’t. Trivia is always fun whether you’re in pursuit of it or not.  Perhaps Scrabble is your preferred game; maybe Monopoly is.   

Whichever, whatever, whenever...I won’t monopolise your time...instead, getting straight to the point. I’ll not pass “Go”, foregoing the $200.00.  I’ll bypass going to jail, to boot!

The English translation of the Italian word “quando” is “when”.   “Kondo” in Ugandan means “thief” or “armed robber”. 

In our present day world when we easily and eagerly, without thorough thought, too often succumb to the latest crazes, “Kondo” has adopted another meaning because of Marie Kondo aka “Konmari”, the Japanese decluttering queen (don’t be conned into believing she is the “Dancing Queen”).

Kondo is the organising consultant taking over the planet, or your house and cupboards.  Kondo is kind of OCD on steroids as she marshals her way through the disorder of others.

My mind needs decluttering. It’s been a cluttered mess since I began decluttering my mess.  Kondo would have a ball with me, assisting in lightening my load, but quando?  Being kept extremely busy elsewhere she’d have no spare time to help me simplify my life and worldly possessions.

Fed up wondering when Kondo would arrive I took matters – and junk - into my own hands.  A brief glance woke me up to the fact I had too much stuff – still do.  What a "fun" job I’ve undertaken.   I'm sure you understand my true meaning behind "fun"!

 
In so many ways it’s a stressful task.  I’m a masochist!  Parting with books is heartbreaking – almost an impossibility.  My wide and varied collection, which included/includes some from my childhood and teenage years, would put the local library to shame.

Choosing which ones to keep is a challenging, formidable task. Those given away make you weep.

Eeny meeny miney mo, take a book off the row; should you let it go; eeny, meeny, miney, mo; it’s easy to withhold one, while taxing letting others go.  

Similar applies to mementos of various descriptions and sizes. Many have stories of their own to tell...memories attached to inanimate objects; meaningful moments from times gone by that matter only to me.  Some tangible objects are not easy to part with; the memories surrounding them are precious, if only to one’s own self...personal memories, which mean naught to others.

Lately I’ve become a grey nomad, without a caravan.  Perhaps, I’m towing a virtual caravan.

I’m not traversing the country. My route is limited - between home, the Op Shops, the bin of St. Vincent, and the rubbish dump aka tip, refuse facility that refuses little.

Blindfolded I could execute the trail perfectly, even in the dark of night.

A couple of months ago I had an epiphany coming to the realisation I had too much stuff – paraphernalia not being used. The time had come for me to lighten my load. By now one would have thought I'd have learned from Remy and Shama...taken a leaf out of their book.  My two furry best mates travel lightly....they have four food bowls (not all are in use simultaneously), and their glass stein that is in constant use as their water container.

We humans accumulate a massive amount of clobber, objects, thingamajigs through the years. Most of it rarely sees the light of day, or the LED lights of nights.  A lot we can’t see because it’s covered in dust. Even the dust covers on books get covered in dust!  

You’re probably different to me, having wisely already become aware a light load is better than a heavy load when I was still fighting against the sensibility of the reality. 

Sparse is not a farce.

One shouldn’t allow sentiment to have control, but it does. With me it, does... I freely, with no embarrassment, or need of explanation, admit to my failing...one of many.

I’m a sook of the first degree - a factor that came to the fore last week when I discovered I’d accidentally given away to one of the local Op Shops a group of books I’d meant to keep. My error made me weep. 

I’m trying to toughen up...quando...is the question! 

Simple Tomato-Basil Soup: Heat a pan over a med-heat; add 1tsp olive oil; add 1 chopped onion and 3 large garlic cloves, chopped finely; cook until just starting to turn golden. Add 7c chopped fresh tomatoes; cook over med-heat, stirring often until tomatoes break down and are soft. Remove from heat; add 1 handful basil leaves; season; blitz in blender until smooth; serve immediately.

Sparse Salad: Preheat oven 260C. Place a rimmed baking sheet in oven (leave pan in oven while it preheats). Combine 1c chopped sweet potato, 2tbs olive oil, 1tsp grated lemon rind, salt, pepper, 240g Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved, 2tbs grated Parmesan cheese, 2 large shallots, quartered lengthwise (or red onion), and 295g cauliflower florets in bowl. Spread mixture on preheated pan; bake at 260C 15mins or until golden brown. Combine 2tbs olive oil, 1/4tsp salt, 2tbs chopped fresh tarragon, and 2tbs white wine vinegar in large bowl. Add 155g rocket; toss to coat. Divide rocket among 4 plates. Top each evenly with vegetables; sprinkle over grated Parmesan and chopped roasted almonds or pecans.

Curried Chickpea Salad: In a large sauté pan heated over med-high heat, sauté 1/2c diced onion in 4tsp olive oil until deep golden and crispy, about 6-8mins, stirring frequently. Add 1/2tsp turmeric, 1/2tsp cumin, 1/2tsp dried coriander, and 1/4tsp cayenne pepper; cook, stirring constantly, until aromatic and lightly toasted, about 3mins. Add 2x400g cans chickpeas, drained, 1tbs chopped fresh coriander, and 1tbs lemon juice, or to taste; continue to stir to develop flavours, about 5mins. Remove from heat; season to taste. Cool the salad; transfer it to a container; cover, and chill before serving, at least 30mins. Adjust seasoning and lemon juice as desired before serving.