Friday, March 22, 2019

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.   


26 comments:

  1. I'm as guilty of too much stuff as you are, and that's after I gave away so much when moving here. I look around me and see so much that I don't actually need, but can't give anything away, not yet. I don't think either of us would manage with just four food bowls and a drinking mug. At the very least, we'd need a sleeping rug too, something fluffy and warm.

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    1. Hi there River...Well, my two furry friends share my sleeping arrangements...so we have that covered...excuse the pun, although it wasn't intended! :)

      I no longer entertain others, so I don't need many cooking utensils, cutlery, plates etc., as I once did.

      I've still a load of stuff to get rid of...most of the junk just taking up room, gathering dust and cobwebs out in the back area, for instance. Within the next few weeks, I intend organising a guy with a truck to come handle that for me. I've stuff there that has never been used or touched in the 17 years I've been here, and that includes a clothes dryer and a microwave, both of which haven't been used for over 17 years! It's time for it to be touched and taken away!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  2. I like your play of words: Quando(when) and Kondo (the decluttering 'guru').
    Yes, decluttering is a tough issue. We get attached to books, and to many other items, and things pile up becoming one big mess.

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    1. G'day, DUTA...it's fun playing around with words. That song popped into my head...I'd not heard it in ages...and it yelled out to me to use it in some form or another! :)

      Books are the hardest to get rid of, I think. Also I have old family photos etc., that mean absolutely nothing to anyone else...so that is very difficult to deal with. I can't throw them away.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. Oh Lee what an emotional time you are going through at the moment. I do hope some semblance of order returns to your life soon. Have you managed to find a new place to live yet.
    Take care
    Cathy

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    1. Hey there, Cathy. No....I've put plans of relocation on hold for now...I had to expend a fair bit of money on my car the week before last...so my coffers need to be topped up again. I did look at a place that would have suited me and my two furry buddies, but it was a little out of my price range. When I paid my rent a couple of weeks ago...face to face...eye to eye...I asked my landlords did they want to get rid of me...and the reply was no...so the status quo remains...for now. We will have to see what the future holds.

      It has been a stressful, trying time over the past couple of months...in more ways than one...but that is life...such is life.

      Thanks for your concern, and for coming by. :)

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  4. sometimes I think it would be easier for me to leave this home behind and take nothing with me except my dh and cat and move into an empty house. lol, those salads looks fabulous

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    1. I think you're onto a good idea there, Linda! :)

      It sure would easy the load in so many ways...mostly emotional.

      The Op Shops have received a lot of the pottery items I'd made years ago when I was doing pottery....I've now only a couple of pieces left.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. When you're going through your old books and stuff, do you ever stop to read a bit in any of them? Coincidentally I was also trying to make room in the basement, mostly by re-organizing and combining boxes though I did throw away a couple books, one on Lamaze (don't need that one now) and another fictionalized diary translated to English from Italian or something like that). But sometimes I'll pull aside a book to read a page or chapter.

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    1. Hi Dave....Of course! That's what makes the whole process even longer than it should really be. I've been doing that constantly.

      I spent a couple of hours just yesterday - on a somewhat different note...going through a pile of folders I'd had stored away...and in them I found old letters, cards, photos, newspaper cuttings etc. I discovered the last letter I wrote to my brother just before I moved back down south to Gympie, to be closer to him because he was about to go into hospital in Brisbane. And, I also found the last card I'd given him...both only weeks before his passing. Finding them was very emotional.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  6. It's not easy to declutter, it's all good stuff when it's your own!

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    1. Hi messymimi...I'm doing it a little bit at a time...It's still been hot to get too energetic..., and you are correct...it's not easy. So much has sentimental attachment.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  7. So you had a bit of a cleanup it seems. I've done what you did once, only once given away things that I wished I hadn't. Always ended up needing the item.
    It's amazing what one finds during a clean up!

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    1. Hi Margaret....the clean-up is on-going. Slowly, but surely, I'll get it all done, to the point I want it all to be.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  8. Like you I'm in the process of getting rid of 'stuff'. Occasionally I actually manage it. When I lived in New Zealand I had no baggage to start off with. After 10 years I had managed to collect some 'stuff'. What I noticed was that it was my stuff and not stuff inherited from my family which, I find, is amongst the hardest stuff to dispose of. That brings me to the question of why "One shouldn’t allow sentiment to have control" as you said. I do. Well I do sometimes! Anyway good luck in your endeavours.

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    1. G'day, Graham...it is a slow, difficult job. I've become bogged down in lots of very personal stuff. Things I know I just can't toss or give away.

      I came across the last letter I wrote to my late brother Graham...and a card I'd given him when he was in hospital shortly before he passed away. There is no way I can part with them...among so many other items I've discovered as I've been on my endeavour to declutter. When I come across things like that...I come to a stop and can't get motivated again for a couple or more days.

      Yes...sentiment does play a huge role. :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  9. These recipes sound delicious. I hate trying to declutter. It's so stressful, at least for me. What stays. What goes. Ack!

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    1. Hi Sandra...I'm on a go-slow with the decluttering at the moment...but I'll have to kick-start myself again...tomorrow, perhaps...so I can do another run to the dump and to the Op Shops on Friday...and on it goes.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  10. Big hugs Lee. And, as always, your blog made me hungry! I need that soup, STAT...

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    1. G'Day RK....big hugs back to you...I'll have a pot of soup waiting for you on your arrival! :)

      Thanks for coming by...take good care. :)

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  11. I did enjoy the Englebert video … it took me back in time!

    Loved your recipes here too :)

    I think decluttering is a good thing to do, from time to time, but I have to be in the right mood to do it …

    All the best Jan

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    1. Hi Jan....It had been ages since I'd listened to Engelbert Humperdinck, too.

      I've been a bit slack in the decluttering department this week...but I've got to get myself into gear again...more to do!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  12. I always heard that a messy desk was a sign of genius. I liked that. Sorry I have been absent but happy to see you on Facebook from time to time. I am trying to return to my blog.

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    1. It's always good to see you, Annie.

      I must be a genius! Who woulda thunk it?? :)

      Thanks for coming by...I hope all is well with you and yours...take care. :)

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  13. Things do have memories that come charging forth but who cares if we had so many. In the end someone will come along an dispers all to the four winds of the earth with no remorse as their meaning will will mean nothing in the end. Peace

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  14. Hey there, Lady Di...It is good to see you. I have no one to leave anything to...so all mine will be dispersed by the wind or burnt on the pyre with me! I'm sure I'm highly combustible!

    Thanks for coming by...take good care. :)

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