LIFE UNDER THE STAIRS
By Local Resident, Jane Stevenson
brownies don’t matter. Soggy pastry? Don’t make jam tarts. I will make some cakes and biscuits. I’ll buy in some stuff, accept the kind gifts from others. It really doesn’t matter. The whole idea is that I share a morning with friends, provide them with tea, coffee, Gaviscon if required, and hope they donate to MacMillan That’s what it is all about. SKY’S THE LIMIT? As I’ve said in earlier issues, I don’t have Sky. Friends used to tape items for me, and I would spend a great deal of time using the fast forwards button to cut out the incessant ad breaks. They were irritating and spoilt my enjoyment . COFFEE, CAKE AND COOKING This month’s bit nearly didn’t happen! I’ve been so wrapped up in other stuff I didn’t realise the date until today (12 th September). What with some community work, family stuff, upcoming MacMillan Coffee Mornings and Emma Raducanu my mind’s been elsewhere. Everyone knows how precious our time is nowadays. Only our commitments and priorities may differ. Now I’m retired, I can pick and choose my tasks and commitments to some extent. With that comes a satisfaction and enjoyment not always experienced by others. The coffee morning is an example. I do it through choice. My kid brother died from cancer in his mid-fifties – that’s no age at all. He married my wonderful sister-in-law and they produced two amazing children, now adults. His death left a void in their lives and mine which can never, ever be filled. Afterwards, like other grieving relatives, I started a small monthly donation to Cancer UK. I wanted to do more but was studying and coming to grips with his death. These events took precedence
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over everything else.
Freeview now shows some Sky content, albeit quite old – and I have been revelling in Sky Arts. I recently spent an afternoon and evening watching documentaries on Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd and Yes. These were my music heroes from the early 1970s and it was delightful to see them in their That said, the single biggest old age, as well as clips from concerts stumbling block to all this is that I filmed over fifty years ago. can’t bake! Cakes never rise, biscuits resemble small paving slabs and my The music and innovation these rock cakes are well named. Sponges artistes produced remains fiery and sag and any attempt at jam tarts passionate. Sadly, some of them are results in soggy bottoms all round. no longer with us, but the adage ‘the I’ve spent some time poring over my music lives on’ is testament to their meagre collection of cookery books skills and creativity. Watching and but have felt overwhelmed by the listening to Keith Emerson at the 1970 skill required to make even a cup Isle of Wight Festival, introducing a cake. Googling ‘easy cakes’ wasn’t a young and impressionable crowd to his take on Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at big help either. an Exhibition’ brought memories I could cheat and buy some in, but flooding back. It was worth the few it doesn’t sit right with me. I feel I hours out of the day, and thanks to should make an effort for my brother. Spotify and YouTube I can relive it Some friends have kindly offered to again and again. bring their own foodie masterpieces along and for that I am truly thankful. Older age has its advantages Take care people When I started thinking about this (I tend to overthink everything) there came the realisation that perfection in cake baking isn’t required. Wonky cakes, dripping icing and oozing Now with spare time I can support what is close to my heart. I’ve sent out my invites, asked friends via text, Whatsapp and email. I’ve planned the preceding week like a military campaign so I can enjoy the event as well.
