Homemade meals at No.22 are something we savour, as it’s the small things made with love that genuinely matter. There’s no time to waste on food that lacks quality, taste and freshness. Our head chef, not the bottle washer, dedicates her time to mainly preparing delicious and appetising dishes, apart from the duds not to be mentioned. These days, a small portion, unless it’s cake, is all that’s needed, since Les’s appetite isn’t as demanding, nor does he desire a wide variety of food.
In the past, meals were a daily ritual enjoyed together. Fresh milk, squeezed fruit juice, and a pot of freshly made tea, along with homemade baked goods, were often available when guests arrived for morning or afternoon tea. There was also the nightly ritual around 6 to 6:30, when food was served at the table, and the whole family would gather for dinner. This time allowed everyone to catch up on their day. Since devices hadn’t been invented, and the television was merely background noise, the focus was on eye contact and conversation. The only exception was if criticism was directed at the food, at which point, a slap might be administered, and eye contact would be avoided.
Recent conversations about mealtimes have made me realise that some people from our generation are continuing this tradition with their grandchildren. It has been a pleasure to hear the joy that comes with it, and it’s something that Les and I would have likely embraced if we had had the opportunity to have grand/children.
Lately, baking has made a comeback in our household. It has become a weekly ritual, replacing the traditional larger social dining experience, as that evening time is usually reserved just for us. We welcome visitors in the morning and early afternoon, which is Les’s favourite time of day when he has the most energy for conversations.
These visitors include not only family and friends but also an exceptional volunteer from Waipuna Hospice who has generously given up his time to help record Les’s biography. While I have written up a few of our stories, it will be interesting for Les to share his version, as he’s more of an orator than a writer. I’m not a good listener and lack the concentration to grab all the details. Hence, someone else is doing it so that his version of his life will be a legacy for others to read.
Excuse me while I take the cake out of the oven.
The image below shows Les during happier times, about to devour a posh version of cake in Weisbaden, Germany. Bon Appétit.
Life at No. 22 
It’s great that you entertain visitors, Suzanne. A diversion for you, as well as for Les. Cooking’s never been something I enjoyed but it’s nice to be able to share a meal. I have one or two stock favourites that don’t tax me too much xx
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At least you’re honest regarding cooking, Jo. I know many males who do the cooking in their household than the women. I’ve always enjoyed cooking and some baking, though baking was more of a rarity due to our lack of willpower. Whomever chooses to cook gets to determine what is on their plate.
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Does Les have restrictions in his diet? I could live on cheese but unfortunately Mick can’t tolerate it xx
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Yes, he does due to his tongue (like a graft vs host disease from his transplant) he can no longer have foods too hot or too spicy.. His abdomen can’t handle the pressure of eating too much food. Small meals. Soups and casseroles are his choices at the moment. Cheese is a big love of ours, one food that we sought out all over Europe and fun trying all sorts of creations.
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Bon Appétit! The posh cakes look delicious but I’m sure yours will compete. We still eat at the dining table when it’s just the two of us but I think that is becoming rarer.
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It was a delicious treat. We sit at our kitchen island bench, which we had designed to incorporate an extension for a table, allowing us to face each other rather than be seated side by side, as is typical of a regular island bench.
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Meals made with love is what matters and I am sure Les enjoys every tasty morsel. I have always loved cooking and baking from a very early age, though I don’t do much of the latter as there is only the two of us to eat the cake! I do have phases though when ginger cake or parkin or a lemon polenta cake makes an appearance.
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Oh, go on then, invite me for tea and lemon polenta cake 😉 I’ve got this recipe for a teacake that uses minimal sugar as funnily enough Les now dislikes sugary foods. Ginger is one of my favourite spices and love eating it even in cake. Sharing food is one of lifes pleasures.
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I’m totally on board with home cooked meals and baked goods (though I don’t do so much of the latter). We dine at the table every evening. I enjoy cooking, fortunately. So does my brother. Our mother did not and dinners growing up were, um, bland, let’s say. Glad you can enjoy eating together with Les and with morning guests.
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I can relate to the endless bland, plain meals of my childhood. Funnily enough, when we chat with most people our age, we all had about the same sorts of meals: meat, spuds, and fresh vegetables from the garden, which fuelled us kids for years of playing outdoors in all kinds of weather. When I cook, at least I know what goes into what we eat. We’ve always preferred going out for brunch and then taking a walk, rather than evening dining.
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I can get on board with that. I used to always prefer lunch and only have a light snack in the evening. But with work schedules we got into always having dinner. I tried switching back a year or two ago, but it didn’t stick.
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Bon appetit! Melx
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Jack and I now enjoy having our main meal in the middle of the day. Like you we always have it round the table. Home cooked always tastes better than restaurant meals. It is sad that the younger generation, at least ours, do not get together for meals. Not much baking, but occasionally Jack will get the urge to bake a fruitcake. That cake in the photo does look yummy
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The food in Germany was just as good or in some instances even better than the French. The week that I do more baking the visitors bring pastries from a local bakery which are divine and way too sumptuous.
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We (just two of us) almost always eat our main meal at the table, without distractions, though we’ve been known to eat in front of the TV if there’s a live sporting event we don’t want to miss! We share the cooking and keep it simple – pasta sauces, for example 🙂 I enjoy baking now and then (I always make a Christmas cake) but daren’t do it too often as I would share the results with my husband and while he can eat anything without putting on weight, the same sadly can’t be said about me! Your Weisbaden cakes look delicious but I’m betting yours are too, and it’s great that you’re able to welcome (and feed!) visitors while still having your precious evenings to yourselves.
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The eating on the sofa ceased when our new kitchen was completed, it was a relief of sorts not to use stain remover on our lounge clothing 😉 Yes, I can relate to the issue of weight gain, it’s a balance of enjoying food and keeping fit and healthy. As I certainly have more kilometres to walk here and overseas in me 🙂
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You’re right that dinner table conversations seem to be something from the past. Even if you can get everyone together at the same time, for many the siren call of cell phone screens cannot be ignored. I’ve no doubt that comparing your memories and those of Les will be fascinating. It’s great that someone is helping you record them.
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I have a rule that mobile phones shouldn’t be used while eating, except when travelling for routes or accommodations. Mobiles are great, and I wouldn’t like not to have one, just sometimes it’s lovely to “be” present. I’m looking forward to reading Les’s take on his childhood and our life together, as we all see life from different angles.
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While we enjoy going out to dinner now and then (mostly with friends), we enjoy cooking for ourselves at home too. It’s a lot healthier and often better tasting.
How wonderful that Les is capturing his memories. Will they be audio only or will they be transcribed?
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I am sure I will enjoy going out for dinner in the future, just now it’s not important. Yes, Les’s conversations will be recorded then transcribed and put into a book form. He’s a wonderful storyteller and when I’m at basketball I’ll feel more relaxed knowing someone is with him.
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Those cakes do look quite posh, Suzanne. A lovely photo of happy times. 🙂 I’ve begun making bread weekly too. It’s so grounding during difficult times, that slow making of bread that goes back thousands of years. And the aroma of bread in the oven is divine. A lovely reflection on the joy of shared meals and conversation. Hugs.
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We used to really enjoy making bread and still appreciate the work that goes in creating a loaf. We cheat and buy fresh sourdough as a treat. The patisseries scattered around Europe were an addiction in themselves.
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Oh, I’ll bet. I rarely eat bread (all the carbs), so it has to be special – homemade or artisan. What a treat.
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