I CAN’T GET BY WITHOUT MY MUM!

Taken 6th April, 1966...my first wedding...from left to right; My mother, Elma; my Nana, Ivy; me and Mervyn; Mervyn's father and my brother Graham.

Here's Cheers!

Unfortunately, I’ve had to do so because none was available when I went to buy one!  What is the world coming to?  Don’t be silly! Mothers aren’t for sale at the supermarket! I’m referring to Mum Roll-On deodorant.

When I went to replenish my supply of Mum the other day there wasn’t any to be seen.  To my jaw-dropping surprise none of the latter was in stock at our local IGA supermarket. The shelves were bare - not a Mum was in sight!  I almost collapsed in a faint. If no one had been around I would’ve sat down in the middle of the aisle, cried my eyes out while throwing a tantrum; but  there were other shoppers milling around so I was forced to roll up my sleeves, pull my head in, yank up my socks, and put on a brave front - onwards and upwards I rolled forth. 

At the tender age of 15 I stepped into the adult world when I commenced my first job. Oh! The joy of earning my own money!

It was then, as a fledgling beginning to spread my wings, I started using underarm (wings) deodorant.  Mum Rollette was what I purchased when I was a teenage high roller hitting the Gympie dances, record hops, and the beaches of Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headlands and Noosa Heads.

Loyally, I’ve faithfully carried Mum under my arms, out of sight, throughout the years since those halcyon, innocent times.  Mum took the worry out of being close. 

To the letter, I followed the mantra; “When you’re on a good thing...stick to it”. The Mortein insect spray advertisement insisted everyone followed its wise advice; so I did.  I never used Mortein under my arms, though, if that’s what you’re thinking – there were no flies on me (not even Louie)! 

With my weekly pay packets clasped securely in hand I started doing lots of things I’d been unable to do while a school student. I was able to buy my own clothes, or in the majority of instances, the material to make them.  I was capable of paying my own way with the money I earned.  I felt independent. It felt good.  I was proud to be able to help in the running of our family household.  No longer was I dependent on my mother and grandmother for my upkeep.  Being self-supporting was the best thing since sliced bread – and Elvis! 

During my older brother’s and my childhood our mother and grandmother were the money-earners. There was no father on the scene.  Our welfare, guidance and safety were in the hands of those two wonderful, strong women.  They weren’t perfect; no one is, but they were perfectly incredible in so many ways; having had to face and conquer many obstacles.  “Surrender” was a word they understood and could spell; but it was one they never put into practice.

Mum and Nana worked hard to ensure at all times my brother and I had clothes on our backs; shoes on our feet and food on the table.  Our cupboards were never bare, even the times when the coffers were.

There was little my late brother Graham and I did without.  And if there was, we never fretted about it.  We had enough to occupy our time and our imagination.  We never coveted what others had. We were too busy playing cowboys and Indians, and/or building cubby houses and tree houses; or earning our pocket money by lugging read newspapers, empty milk and soft drink bottles to the local shops up the road to be swapped for shiny three-pences, sixpences and one shilling pieces, depending on the going rate.

Our grandmother and mother shared an unbreakable bond.  Sometimes they argued like sisters. At all times our mother respected her mother, our grandmother; and vice versa.

My Mum and Nana were good mates; they were each other’s best friend.  Their unique connection was unbreakable.  No man or woman could tear their alliance asunder.  Mum and Nana remained each other’s ally through thick and thin.  Too often they faced adversity, but they faced it together, side by side, and, more often than not, won. Sometimes the battles they faced seemed unconquerable; but, jointly, hand in hand, they leapt hurdles Superman would’ve had problems overcoming.

Both brought the appreciation of music, of all genres, into our lives from an early age; and for that I thank them. Hardly a day went by the piano wasn’t played.  Music, also, always flowed freely from the radio. Through their encouragement my enjoyment of music (and my late brother's love of music) covered a broad spectrum from classical and opera, to jazz, through to country, honky-tonk, folk, pop and rock and various derivatives. They, also, introduced us to dance....in its many forms.

Mum and Nana taught us to be up front and honest.  We were taught to be respectful of others...and of our own self.  They imparted the knowledge how important it was to stand tall; to look the world and those in it directly in the eye.  Nana and Mum taught us not to fall into the traps of “following the leader”; of mindlessly being “part of the pack”. We were instructed to run our own race, not to be like lemmings, following our peers in the fear of being ridiculed by them if we didn’t follow suit. If a situation arose wherein we didn’t agree with the behaviour of our mates in a given situation, for us to walk away; to have the guts to be an individual; to hold on to the values we’d been taught.

They encouraged Graham and me to dream while advising us not to be disappointed if some dreams didn’t come true; and not to let our disappointment crush us or stop us from dreaming; from having goals.

Both were wags.  Each harboured a mischievous, subtle, sense of humour. 

At times, when in company, Graham and I found it best not to look at them, or be close enough to them (one, the other or both) to receive an unseen-by-others nudge, given with a wicked twinkle in their eyes. All they had to do was cast a look with a cheeky, indiscernible smile teasing at the corners of their mouth, and immediately we knew what was going on in their head!  The Terrible Twins had nothing on my Nana and Mum!   They found humour in many situations. It was difficult to not get caught up in the flow. 

Many years ago both left this mortal earth; Mum in 1974, and Nana in 1976 - but they’ve not departed my heart or thoughts; there they remain.

Never a day goes by I don’t think of them; most often accompanied by a smile.

Our mother and our grandmother...our Mum and our Nana loved my brother and me. We loved them in return.  Like two lionesses, to the best of their ability, they protected us; but never mollycoddled us.  Graham and I were aware the “world out there” was not all sunshine and roses.  Similar could be said about inside our home....it was not all “sunshine and roses”; but that’s life, isn’t it?

It’s my hope Mum Roll-On returns soon to the IGA supermarket shelves. 

There are substitutes for Mum deodorant, but there are no substitutes for your Mum.

If you still have your Mum...cherish her every day, not just on the appointed, special date for Mother’s Day; and never worry about being close...close is good.  

If you are in a similar position to me...cherish your memories...they are special....

Happy Mother’s Day! Hugs to Mums – and to Grand-Mums!

Mum’s Roll-Ups: Cut crust from 8 slices of white sandwich bread; flatten with rolling pin.  Place 1 to 2tsp cream cheese and diced strawberries (or use your own choices; Nutella could be good) 1-inch from one end of bread in a strip. Roll the bread up tightly; repeat with other slices. Whisk together 2 eggs and 3tbs milk. In another bowl combine 1/2c sugar and 1heaped tspn cinnamon. Heat pan over med-heat; melt 1tbs butter; dip bread rolls in egg mix; then place in pan, seam side down’ cook in batches until golden on all sides; add more butter if needed. When cooked add immediately to cinnamon sugar; coat well. Serve with Maple syrup, if desired.  You could substitute the strawberries with blueberries, raspberries or banana; or make a combination using all...it’s up to you.

Eggs Mumma Mia:  Cut in half and toast 4 English muffins; set aside. Heat 2tsp x-virgin olive oil in pan; add 1 minced shallot and 1 minced garlic clove; cook, stirring, about 1min. Stir in 2 diced, medium zucchinis and 3-4 diced tomatoes; cook about 10mins; remove from heat; stir in 1tbs thinly sliced basil, 1tbs balsamic, 1/2tsp salt and ground black pepper. Poach 8 large eggs; cook as desired. Transfer eggs to paper towel to drain; top each of toasted muffin halves with some of the vegetable mixture, an egg, freshly grated Parmesan and some diced basil.

Rolled Stuffed Pork Belly: Score skin of 2kg boneless pork belly. A day or two before you plan to serve the pork, brine in non-reactive roasting dish. Rub 30g salt into both sides of meat; leave for 30mins. Turn the pork belly so skin faces down; then cover with enough cold water to submerge it; cover tightly; store in fridge, 24-48 hours.  Preheat the oven to 180°C. Sit a rack in the centre of the oven. Drain the brine from the belly, pat the pork dry all over and place it with the skin down on a clean work surface. Peel and discard the outer four layers and the upper and lower parts of a lemongrass stem, then finely chop the rest. Mix 100g of peanuts, 250g of peanut butter, ½ teaspoon of chilli flakes (or more or less to taste), 4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped or grated, 3 tablespoons of coarsely chopped fresh tarragon or dill and the lemongrass together in a bowl and spread this evenly over the flesh side of the belly. Roll up the meat tightly and tie it up with string, keeping the roll as tight as possible. Line a large roasting dish with baking paper. Place a cake rack in the dish, then sit the belly on it, with the seam facing down. Rub the skin with a little olive oil and sprinkle with flaky salt. Place in the oven and roast for 1 hour 45 minutes until the skin is golden. Turn up the heat to 230°C; cook for another 15-20 minutes until the crackling has crackled. If it doesn’t crackle, turn the grill on medium-high and cook until it does, keeping your eye on it to prevent burning. Remove the belly from the heat and leave to rest in a warm place, uncovered, for 15 minutes before removing the string and slicing the meat. Serve with potato salad and green leaves or with creamy mashed potatoes (with crushed garlic added, if desired),rich home-made gravy and steamed greens of choice.

Mum’s Just Dessert aka Cherry Cheesecake Brownies: Preheat oven 175C. Either spray with baking spray or grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. For the cheesecake layer, in a large bowl, mix together 240g cream cheese, 1/3^rd  cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1/2tsp vanilla. Set aside. For the brownie layer; In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1/2c softened butter and 1c white sugar. Mix in 2 eggs, and 1tsp vanilla. Stir in 1/2c unsweeetened dark cocoa powder, 1/c plain flour, 1/4tsp salt, and 1/4tsp baking powder. Stir until everything is evenly combined. Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.  Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the brownie mixture.  Gently process canned/bottled cherries, but don’t over-process (add some raspberry jam/preserve to it, if you like after you’ve processed it.  Drop by spoonfuls on top of cheesecake layer; then using a knife, swirl this through the cheesecake layer.  Bake in oven for about 45mins.  The cheesecake layer will still jiggle in the middle even when cooking has finished. Let it cool 1 hour; then chill for at least 4 hours.  Make a chocolate drizzle by adding 1/4c semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2tsp butter in small bowl; either melt over water, or in microwave if you use a microwave oven.  Spoon the chocolate over the top of cheesecake before serving.

Mumosa: Mix together 45ml fresh strawberry juice, 1tsp strawberry jam and 45ml simple sugar syrup; pour into a champagne coupe glass; add a dash or two of Vok strawberry liqueur; top with Champagne to taste; garnish with a strawberry slice on the glass rim.  Cheers to all you Mums, Grand-Mums and Great-Grand-Mums – have a wonderful day!