For whom the bell tolls – just once…and those who remain standing

It was a mixed bag week. To quote a famous move line “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get”.

A variety of Vanilla Christmas Biscuits – no dudds!

Or, to paraphrase an ex-colleague (very logical question Ansie!) “is there some cost saving, or subsidy related reason that chocolate factories keep putting those least favourites in the box of treats?”

It may be useful to create some context for you on my mixed bag week. On Thursday, I stepped into a meeting after just receiving some downright maleficent news. (That one is for you Uwe 😉 ) .

Maleficent is used to describe harm or destruction, especially caused by supernatural means.

The news was not exactly caused by some unexplained force, although human failings are sometimes simply outside of any reasonably explainable realm. It does not matter what the news was, but it did put my entire being in the most foulest state of mind. And just as we are about to start the meeting, the clock tower outside struck. Hence the title. Someone was going to bleed. As in: take all the resources that a person or thing has available…. ☹

It struck only once – was that a good sign, or a bad sign?

For whom the vultures wait – at sunset in Kwando

It reminds me of a poem I wrote as a teenager, while listening to

I wonder about thunder,
When bells chime, it might be the time.
Who might know, who might care
Before God every soul is bare

Please forgive my small belief.
Of reason I was bereaved,
When I realised what it meant,
That this, could be the world's end.

All this despair reminds me of a joke Loni used to tell. Paddy & Murphy went to a costume party, dressed as emotions. Wait, perhaps not suitable for general audience (teehee).

This kind of event happens all the time, to all the people. It represents a choice. You do not have a choice in greeting such news, but you can choose how to react. That whole “Your perception is your reality” kind of vibe.

What could be perceived as the ocean, is in fact the desert – one of my printed photographs.

And its true.

I could have chosen to play drama queen and throw my toys out the cot. This is something I easily do. But on this day, I chose not to. I chose to park it for a minute, and as is nearly always the case, further facts revealed themselves. And the situation may still be dire, but there is also an opportunity to bring about constructive change. I left the meeting feeling like there was an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. And what is more, I think there is now more understanding about the point I was trying to reach. As opposed to a poorly understood directive, which would consequently be poorly implemented.

That is the short cut to a long-winded message – I believe that the end goal is more important, than the way you get there. Of course, you cannot head in the opposite direction and expect to get there, but there is more than one way to get there. And its much more fun, and more sustainable, if there are people on the bus with you.

Panorama shot attempt number n+1 🙂

The other part of the mixed bag news is that a company restructure left someone especially important to me, out in the cold. And it is minus degrees outside. At the start of this COVID pandemic, I had visions of us reverting to a barter economy, the financial and government systems collapsing, and eking out an existence in a post-apocalyptic washed up world. So, my opinion, which I continue to share readily, was that entrepreneurship was the solution for us and our children. Kind of:

  • What problem can you solve for someone?
  • Who will pay for that solution?
  • Do you enjoy doing that?

These words are intended to convey the silver lining around the cloud, and convince you that there is always hope, maybe just around the corner.

A break in the clouds – always makes a good photograph

And big mouth Horn as I must sometimes grudgingly admit, likes to pretend that I am taking on such an uncertain challenge by taking on a new venture by way of living off the land. But I am not all the way there yet. I do not have to be all the way there yet. Tethered to the security blanket of a stable job, albeit in an at-risk industry.

Now I am sharing these words with someone who is important to me. And I have only some, but not all, the experience to share with this person. So, I do not quite know how to convince the person.

But what I do know, is what Captain James T Kirk said, “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do, I only know what I can do”. He knows what he can do, and that potential option he shared, is so very very exciting. Imagine solving someone’s furniture and fittings problems, in a way that is unique to them and their circumstances. And connecting through your carefully crafting hands, to a concept coming to life. Flat two-dimensional shapes, being aligned, fitted, planed, polished, and buffed to become that perfect solution to someone’s need.

The future is scary, but by golly, it is exciting!

Khaudom experience – fun with 4 friends, 4 years ago

To celebrate spending the weekend with friends on their farm, which we have not done since our farm found us, I am sharing this old story of our adventure. It is the kind of story I would like to share widely. The tales of adventures that will surely attract kindred adventurers from afar.

Come to Namibia, bring your friends, and experience nature and space like nowhere else.

An introduction to Guptas – nostalgia on a sword

To quote Alanis Morissette, “isn’t it ironic”, that I write so much about doing the right thing, and good corporate governance, and then name a dish we were first introduced to in Turkeia, as Guptas?

Anthony, Fanie and me, visiting Carol (& Sureya) in Istanbul

The reason why, is because the husband likes to replace words with similar sounding, often used words, regardless of their meaning. So, Koftas became Guptas. Because we talk so much about corruption…..

By the way, I have discovered the reason why one must knead bread, specifically sour dough bread, twice. Some would say I can call this experiment “rock bread”, Being a lifestyle optimist, I prefer to say that I have discovered the perfect way to make melba toast. This post represents a test to “the husband”, to see how long it takes him to read my posts. Because I am sure I am going to get a picture from him enjoying his “lightly toasted lunch” before even reaching the office. And once he reads this post, I will get some commentary about the standard of today’s fare.

Once knead sourdough melba toast

Anyway, I promised the recipe for the Guptas:

MinceMaybe about 500g, which should make about 10-12 Guptas
OnionsGrate the onions, or even better, use caramelized onions.
Did you know you can make caramelized onions in the slow cooker? And you do not need to use sugar! (Thanks for that inspiration Neil)
Slice of breadTo bulk the mince a bit, I like to soak a slice of bread in milk.
In this specific case, we did not have any, so I used about half a cup of Jungle oats, which also acts as binding agent.
Binding agent (egg or Jungle Oats)Use an egg, maybe two for firmer kebabs.
Or, if you soak half a cup of Jungle oats in warm milk, stirring well to create that glue texture, that worked very well.
That is something we often must do at the farm, replace a missing ingredient.
Did you know, you can use mushed butter beans instead of butter? Great keto recipes to be had there!
Sunflower seedsYes, you read right.
Sunflower seeds give a really good texture to the kebabs. Maybe about half a cup or so.
There is the story where our travelling troupe of 3 ended in an anonymous village in Turkeia. We had settled into our family room “pansione” and heard loud music. We traced the music to the square, where a traditional wedding was taking place. We were invited to join the peasant “tannies” on their chairs, shelling and snacking on sunflower seeds.
I can’t remember, Anthony, did you take the bride for a spin on the dancefloor?
Baking powderNo more than a tablespoon.
It makes the gupta’s a little lighter.
SpicesHere I use what comes to hand first.
Usually Paprika (including smoked Paprika – gives a nice tang)
Curry
Salt (depending whether you also add Soya), Worcester sauce etc. Any of the “black sauces“ that are usually left in the door of the fridge.
Secret ingredientFish sauce.
I know, smells terrible, but the Umami that brings, is incredible.
I previously described Umami as the “Aromat” of flavours. It is defined as one of the basic 5 flavours, and it is the one that brings everything together quite nicely.
It has also been described as the flavour that develops with leftover lasagne, or braaivleis that you find in the fridge the next day.
Introducing the elements of Guptas

Mix all of these ingredients really well, targeting even distribution of the myriad of flavours and textures, and form rugby ball type shapes on pre-soaked wooden sticks, or if you happen to have those dramatic Turkish swords, nice! Layer them on oiled tin foil. The reason will be apparent shortly.

Make these earlier in the day, so that they can settle in the fridge. But if you are pressed for time, leave them in the deepfreeze while the fire is being prepared.

Now you can braai them on the normal grid, which is ideal. But if the mince did not “settle in”, you may find they fall apart in the process. That is why I use tinfoil. I transfer (or more correctly, I have The Husband transfer) the batch on its tin foil to the grid. Once the tin foil side is nicely done, flip over the grid to the open side, to develop that “braai” flavour. You may choose to remove the tinfoil now, and “smoke” both sides.

The nostalgia on a sword part!

The base case side dish was a butternut-based recipe.

Cube the butternut. Small pieces work well, because they provide flavour bursts in the salad.

Roast in the oven with olive oil, spices (salt & pepper, a dash of cayenne pepper). No, caramelize in the oven is a better description.

Toss together with prepared Cous-Cous (another staple base case ingredient).

Add something sweet (Dried cranberries – an excellent super food, or chopped dates).

Add a zing. Always, a zing for the base case salad. I have not tried fresh or pickled ginger in this version, but there is no reason it cannot work. Here, I added mint from the garden.

Likely, you do not even need a salad dressing for this one.

This was going to be another test, to see if I could write and load a post within half an hour. But I am having too much fun, and I do need to run a spell check, and my lift to the office is about to leave, so I guess this blog wont make it to live status today.

Oh well, hope you get it in time to plan your weekend menu!

PS – serve with “uch effes” – Try ordering that in Turkeia, and see what you get….

Step up to the plate, and use the mic

For me to put you the right frame of mind, I need to paint a picture. Windhoek Country Club, the scene of many beauty pageants since Michelle Mclean was the Namibian beauty crowned as Miss Universe.

It is a few years ago, I am on stage for the annual Miss Namibia event. The question is: If you could have one wish, what would it be. I wont answer “world peace”, although I do wish for that. I would answer “for accountability to be intrinsically part of our human nature”.

Now the fact is, that I was on stage, more than once, but I was that black suited arm in the corner of the television screen, handing “THE ENVELOPE” to Michelle to announce that year’s winner.

Even though I was not asked that awkward politically correct question, I would still have no qualms to give the same answer.

And this brings me to the title of today’s blog. Too many conversations over the last week, have had the same spottled vein of tenets running through as a consistent thread. Too many examples exist of where too many people try their luck, once, twice, and before you know it, we have another Fishrot.

And it is not even just people trying their luck. A fair amount of simply not stepping up to the plate to do the right thing, because its “not my problem” (even though it actually is), or because “I’m waiting for so and so to do this and that” as if someone else not stepping up gives you the excuse that you too need not step up to the plate. There was also a fair amount of S-curve answers to direct questions. You know the type of answer, when the person does not want to give you a straight out response, because they know you are not going to like it, and you end up being dragged around the bush several times, believing you still have an opportunity for the answer you want thus robbing you of the time and effort to bring about alternate solutions.

So that is the rant part of this blog, and it is over. As I had said before, I have a limited capacity for pessimism. I also need to point out examples of where many other people have expressed the theory, and the practise, of doing the right thing.

Take Dr Matthias Ngwangwama’s article in the Namibian last week, titled “Blending Everyday Life with Science”. He was conveying the principles of attuned leadership, and the one that resonated the most with my conversations over the last week, was

“being attuned to the moral imperatives of integrity, probity, humility and a sense of efficacy”.

I am not going to delve into the dictionary meaning of each of these words but want to leave with you a sense of the “imperative”. Crucial, urgent, essential, important, must, need.

Another brilliant example of accountability in practise, is the apology from Velchamy Sankarlingam, president of product and engineering for Zoom, after a service failure in August. Long story short, personal accountability was beautifully illustrated by the excerpt from his apology

“I am personally disappointed that we have let you down…. I’m here to get this right and will personally do my best to prevent …”

https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/zoom-just-failed-its-biggest-test-its-apology-is-an-extraordinary-example-of-emotional-intelligence.html

And now I must borrow from another colleague, who acted as muse for this post. After sharing some profound words on the nature of modern-day illiteracy

Anyone can, and must relearn

with our leadership group (admittedly, not my words), Salomo responded with “use the MIC”. So I am going to ask you, in your week ahead, please loudly and proudly declare the need for each one of us to continue (and in some cases start) doing the right thing not for our own best interest, but because it is the right thing to do in the interest of us all. And I am going to ask you to challenge all those in your circle of influence to make sure they are doing the right thing, not the easy thing. And I am going to ask you to celebrate the occasions where someone did the right thing, especially if it was difficult.

Then we can spend less time policing compliance with laws and regulations that can never even hope to catch all those who are intent on their venal ways. And we can “apply a sense of efficacy” to our productive ventures intended to repair our economy, and our world.

Base case dinners: Mid-week Popeye risotto

Spinach Risotto with meatballs

I think I’m going to write a “base case” recipe book. You start with one ingredient, and add to it what you can find in the cupboards. In this case, the base was spinach harvested from my own vegetable teepee. A teepee is what you get when you place a goal (a place to keep my veggies safe from the critters) in front of your able bodied farm worker, and leave execution up to him.

Infamous Veggie Teepee

Anyway, back to the recipe. What can one do with spinach, other than a flash dry with olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper, and a dash of lemon juice? Which is a perfectly good recipe by the way.

Well, you can make a spinach risotto. In the middle of the week!

Blanch spinach and parsley.

Zirts it with olive oil and butter. Ps – rather don’t use the parsley stalks. Let’s just say it’s strings don’t go well with the blade, and leave it at that.

Fry raw rice (yes, even speko long grain rice will do), with freshly harvested leeks (yes DBP leeks) and garlic, until translucent.

🌾

Add a good glug of dry white alcohol (martini, dry white wine, or in this case, some Chinese liquor left over from a New Year’s Eve party several years ago. Thanks Brian, thanks Claire.)

Then comes the trickiest part. Add a ladle of stock (or water if that is what you have). Continually stir (if using martini. Because that it what James Bond did. And if you are using something else, still stir, because that is what is required). Until liquid is absorbed. Then repeat, and again, and again, until the rice is done.

Add your blitzed spinach purée, season and add a blob of butter.

Bob’s your uncle.

🙄
🍳

Top with anything of your choice. Parmesan is nice, but not a common fridge ingredient. You can add stir fried chicken, crispy bacon, or game meat balls as per illustration.

And that is what was for dinner last night, ala #popuprestaurantdreams. Now I’m off to collect that cheque that was in the post as mentioned in same captioned blog https://thegreatreset-thorn.com/the-cheque-is-in-the-post/ of few weeks ago. Wish me luck!