DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED....WHO’S THE BOSS?

I growled at my TV yesterday, which, for me, is not a rarity... particularly these days when there is so much stupidity going on.  One example of thousands just in this country alone...that clown of a young woman in Victoria the other day who wanted her “15 minutes of fame”...and got it, by screaming and fighting against the police when they...within their rights to do so...asked her to show them her Driver’s License and Permit, and all the while she was filming her idiotic, brain-dead behaviour.

One thing which caused my growling yesterday was a segment about parents having difficulty in getting kids to eat what is placed before them.  Boy!  My grumbling gained speed and volume.

The blame was put on lack of time...yada yada, yada...working mothers; parents being “time poor” etc., etc., and on and on with the normal bullshit of the times!  

In far too many instances, it appears today’s kids make the rules, not the adults!

Throughout my late brother’s and my childhood our mother worked long hours...full-time.  There was no father in the picture.  My brother and I never had a father-figure in our lives.

Our mother was the main bread-winner.  As well fulfilling her regular job, which regularly extended from five days to six days a week, sometimes seven  days, also for a few years she rose before the crack of frosty, winter dawns to go bean-picking on farms in the Gympie region.   After finishing that back-breaking chore, she would return home, and ready herself for her other job, which was a barmaid in one of Gympie’s local pubs, working until closing time...10 pm.  She was a damned good barmaid, too...in the days when being a barmaid was, by some, looked down upon.  However, our mother always held her head high...and rightly so.

Our Nana, who helped raise us kids, worked part-time, during school hours.   Both our mother and grandmother were the disciplinarians...firm, but fair.   

My brother and I weren’t perfect...but we respected our elders.

Basic, tasty, healthy, home-cooked meals were our daily fare.  Dinner always consisted of the main, followed by a pudding/dessert. 

Table manners had been instilled from when we were wee children.  Elbows were not allowed on the table.  Talking with one's mouth full of food was a no-no.  Knives were not allowed to be put in our mouths.  Knives and forks, when we finished our meal were to be placed together, side by side, in the middle of the plate.  Upon finishing our meal we asked permission to leave the table.  And, the chair always had to be pushed back in, with the seat under the table.  (I growl, too, when I see the latter not being done in various televisions shows!)

Because of our mother’s busy work schedule, Nana prepared our meals. We kids were raised to eat what was put in front of us, no fuss, no ado, no tantrums, or sulking. Cajoling, threats, bribery, pleading etc., were never used. Nana and Mum didn’t kow-tow to us. 

If we even made an attempt at turning up our nose, we were told, firmly to eat our meal, or go without.  The latter wasn’t an option.  Mum and Nana weren't running a restaurant...no menu to choose from was put before us... but good food was.

My brother and I understood our place, at the table, and elsewhere. Acting “entitled” wasn’t condoned.

Nowadays it seems, kids have too much say; are given too much leeway (not my way)! 

Parents should hold the reins; take control; guide, not plead; teach by example, not wave a white napkin in surrender!

It is little wonder there are so many “poseurs” around these days...so much...too much... “Look at me!”, self-centred, self-righteous, selfish, bad behaviour on display.

The food placed before us when I was a kid was prepared by hand.  There were no processors, blenders, slow-cookers, electric mixers, thermo-cooks, electric juicers, etc., battling for cupboard space.   

The job was done with a couple of sharp knives, a wooden spoon, or two, a manual egg beater, a manual meat mincer, a rolling pin (has an electric rolling pin been invented yet? If not, I hereby patent the idea; it could become my claim to fame, and fortune), hand graters (one’s knuckles were regularly at risk), wire whisks, and so on. 

Measuring was done by teaspoon, dessertspoon, tablespoon, and by teacup. 

An ice chest, not a fridge, kept our food cold.  An “ice man” delivered the blocks of ice in hessian bags to the homes.

Under the house (which was actually a flat, not a house.  We lived in a two-bedroom, rented flat...there were three flats, in all), a wooden-frame, gauzed hanging safe was sometimes used in the summer months. 

A hanging safe was utilised for the cool, safe storage of food...not a safe place for hanging children who misbehaved, and wouldn’t eat their meals! 

The spare wooden spoon being waved in the air was warning enough for us to pull up our socks, pull our heads in, and toe the line!

Nana made the lightest sponges with a manual egg beater using fresh eggs laid by our bantams and chickens that roamed about in their rather large coop in the backyard. 

Fluffy scones were created by using a flat-bladed knife to cut/pull through the dough.

Food processors had not been invented. The thought of food processors had not yet been entertained, let alone processed.

Flaky shortcrust pastry was made by hand, using, of course, one’s finger tips to rub the cold butter into the flour, until it all ended up looking like breadcrumbs.

It’s time some of today’s parents regained control from their kids.  It’s time parents applied manual behavioural tuition.

Parents are supposed to be the adults; the ones giving guidance.

By “manual”, I don’t mean slapping or spanking.  A look; a tone of voice; a warning...should be enough, as far as I am concerned. They were as far as my brother and I were concerned when we were kids.   Again, I emphasise...we weren’t perfect, by any means...

Hands-on leadership and teaching is not old-fashioned.  Wisdom will never go out of fashion...I hope it won’t!

Often I think common sense has gone out of fashion.  I hope it hasn’t...if it has...I hope it makes a swift return...

Currant Scones: Preheat oven 230 C; line baking tray.  Sift 2c plain flour, 2tsp baking powder and pinch salt into bowl; rub in 6tbs cold butter, using fingertips. Add 1/4c currants and 2tbs caster sugar. Make a well in the centre of mixture; add 1 lightly-beaten egg.  Combine 1/4c sour cream and 1/4c milk; add almost all of the cream-milk; mix gently with a flat-bladed knife to a soft dough; add more liquid if necessary. Do not over-mix.  Turn dough onto lightly-floured surface; knead very briefly and lightly; folding back over itself and pressing down (about 20secs).  It should just lose its stickiness. Press or roll out to 2cm thickness; handling lightly. Use floured round cutter (or glass rim) to cut dough into circles; pile scraps together; press out; cut more pieces; do not re-knead). Place scones on prepared tray; brush with sour cream or egg; bake 10-15mins.

Blueberry-Almond Tart: Sift 225g plain flour into bowl; add 100g diced, cold butter; rub in butter using your fingertips only until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Gently stir in pinch of salt; then add 2-3tbs icy-cold water; mix to a firm dough. Knead dough briefly and gently on a floured surface. Wrap in cling film; chill while preparing filling. Heat oven, 190C. Beat 5g softened butter and 175g caster sugar until light and fluffy; stir in 175g ground almonds, 2 beaten eggs and a few drops almond extract. Stir in 1x125 punnet of blueberries; spoon into pastry case. Smooth top with back of metal spoon; then scatter over another 125g blueberries; press them in lightly. Bake 45-50mins until pastry is crisp and golden, and filling feels firm to touch. Cool tart 10mins in tin; then lift onto serving plate; dust with icing sugar; serve warm or at room temp.