WHERE WERE YOU WHEN………………?

 Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Friends..."Where or When"

 

                               

                           

When my now late brother Graham and I were kids our Nana and Mum gained a great deal of pleasure every time (about a million) they presented us with an age old riddle.  At the time we thought they had invented the riddle…e.g… ”Where was Moses when the lights went out?”  There are a couple of answers to the riddle, one of which is…“In the dark”. 

Mum and Nana’s inventive answer was always …”Under the bed looking for the matches!” 

The bemused looks upon my brother’s face, and mine every time we were asked the question never failed to cause gales of laughter from Nana and Mum.  Obviously, our bewilderment and groans were funnier than the actual riddle! 

My brother and I never did see the funny side.  I do, however, laugh at the memory of those childhood moments. I think Mum and Nana asked the question so often of Graham and me just to enjoy our always blank expressions. Our reactions never failed to cause them much laughter.  I imagine everyone has those “I remember where I was when that occurred” moments.  I, for one, do. 

Early on a Saturday morning Nana woke me with the shocking news of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s assassination…22^nd November, 1963. That day, when JFK was senselessly killed, created a devastating, unforgettable moment in history.

Mid-morning 21^st July, 1969, AEST, having escaped the office, along with a crowd of like-minded curiosity-filled humans, I stood in awe staring at a television screen in one of the windows of Penney’s building in Queen Street, Brisbane.  The massive crowd had gathered to witness history being made… “Mankind took one giant leap…”

A Saturday morning in January 1964 I was at my then boyfriend’s (much later husband) flat, doing his laundry while he was at work. How spoilt he was! Randall was an announcer at Gympie’s radio station, 4GY. 

After his shift he’d raced home. Out of breath caused by his haste, he gushed; “This morning I played a fantastic track by a great new singer! She has an incredible voice! I predict the world’s going to hear a lot more from her! She’s fabulous!  Wait until you hear her…you’ll agree!”  The singer to whom Randall referred was Barbra Streisand whose single, “People”, had just been released.  How right he was!

Finally, we married when Randall arrived back in on home turf after living and working in New York for many years. He and I were in the throes of renovating our house, a “Queenslander”, in Torwood, a western suburb of Brisbane.  I was high upon a ladder painting tongue and groove walls in the dining-lounge area, and Randall was tiling in the kitchen when the news echoed over the radio….Elvis had left the building…The King had died.  It was Tuesday, 22^nd August, 1977, AEST. Elvis was unique.  The myriad Elvis impersonators throughout the world will never be able to do him justice.

Monday, 8^th December, 1980, Randall and I were attending a Rotary evening held at the Noosa Heads Golf Club, when we learned of the untimely and shocking death of John Lennon.  For me, that, too, remains an unforgettable moment in time.

September, 2001…shortly after 10 pm Tuesday, AEST, I’d not long arrived home from work.  At the time, I was the chef aka cook at a Gympie function house-restaurant.  Having switched on my TV, unbelievable images filled the screen.  9/11…the day the earth stood still...

The list of “when and where” moments remain embedded in my mind, with a few least notable among the most notable.   I wonder if Moses ever found the matches…..

 

Parmesan Brussels Sprouts: Preheat oven 200C. Trim bottom ends of 450g Brussels sprouts; slice each Brussels sprout in half, top to bottom. Prepare large baking sheet (line it with baking paper if you like). Pat the sprouts dry; place in bowl. Add 3tbs olive oil or melted butter, 1tsp Italian seasoning, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1/2c or so grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Toss gently to coat evenly; then place sprouts on prepared baking sheet, spreading evenly into one layer. Bake on the centre rack. 25-30mins. Adjust the time depending on your oven…the vegetables should be golden brown.  Transfer to serving bowl; sprinkle with chopped parsley, if you like.

Pan-Fried Mushrooms & Zucchinis: Add 1tbs olive oil and 1/2tbs butter to large pan; set over med-high heat.  Add 2 small zucchinis, cut into thin, half moon slices; season; cook 3-4mins, or until fork-tender.  Remove from pan; set aside.  Wipe out any liquid left in pan.  Return pan to heat.  Add 2-1/2tbs butter; melt.  Stir in 1 smallish finely diced onion; cook 2mins, or until just softened. Add 450-500g small button mushrooms, cleaned and patted dry; cook 5-7mins, until tender and browned. Stir in 3 or 4 minced garlic cloves, and 2tsps fresh chopped herbs of choice, or 1tsp dried herb e.g. thyme and oregano; cook 2mins. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan; serve.