As the country prepares to cautiously unlock from Lockdown, I`m not sure if I`m ready to unleash my son James on a waiting World- he`s so accident prone!
Of course my three teenagers are chomping at the bit to be released back into society. The twins have gone from the bright lights of their University lives to the softer safe firelight of their home town and house rules that are just too rulesy for their young unruly hearts...
My youngest daughter has really grown up and is blossoming like a flower at the Chelsea flower show but with no one to appreciate her loveliness. We do of course, but she is craving her friends and freedom and fun.
Back to calamity James...
Last weekend was beautiful, even so ,being a nearly 50, Factor 50 SPF , hairy, agoraphobic gal these days I haven't been out at all! It was so sunny though that I prepared to bare! Deforestation took a while, the bath looked like Hagrid had been to stay , but I slapped on some sun cream and slipped into a sundress and was just about to have a Cornish Gin in the garden when the phone rang. I`m ashamed to say I ignored it and let the answer phone take the strain. I could hear the frantic message and it wasn`t my mother ringing to cheer me up like normal with the daily Corona death rate in the North West! No it was Jimmy, who had made it to Grange Over Sands on his bike and had fallen off and was apparently "bleeding all over the road!"
I jumped in Matty`s estate car and went to rescue my boy,who was looking as rough as toast when I found him. Thankfully he had his helmet on and his foot,though gashed, didn't look too life threatening! It wasn`t hanging off or anything! After a long chat with 111, we went to Hospital. Lockdown has taken its toll , Nosocomephobia or excessive fear of hospitals is my Achilles heal.
I`ve been to hospital 3 times in my life, once to be born, and secondly to have twins and in the third instance to have Jemima on my way to my brother`s wedding.
Thankfully I wasn't allowed in. I sat sweating buckets in the car listening to Smooth radio and eating a sharing bag of Walkers sensations crisps- guess what I didn`t share them!
Three hours later Calamity James hobbled out all stitched up and sheepishly admitted he was going "WEEEEEE LOOK NO HANDS!" when he went over his handlebars.
He is a nightmare, but he`s my nightmare and I can`t blame him for a reckless bit of cycling trying to spark joy at this strange time.
Everyone has a story, everyone has worries exacerbated by Lockdown and so my default setting is just to be kind to everyone, even my accident prone Calamity James. I haven`t signed up to the toxic productivity mantra that has kept many sane, I haven't run a virtual marathon, learned to crochet or got into hot Yoga. It is enough in my mind just to survive , whatever brings you Joy though, by all means, I say do it. Providing of course, you stay safe , keep your hands washed and on the handlebars and leave me to drink my Cornish gin in rare solitude.
Chicken alfredo
He may be a bit clumsy but James is a Scientist in the kitchen and makes this for me when it`s "Mum`s night off"
8 skinless chicken thighs chopped into pieces
Olive oil
2 fat cloves garlic ,crushed
150g parmesan cheese
350ml double cream
2tbs butter
400g tagliatelle
Fry the chicken in the olive oil and garlic for 10 minutes until cooked through, set aside
Boil up the pasta in salted water , meanwhile melt the butter and add the cream and Parmesan and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken back into the sauce and when the pasta is cooked slosh it straight into the sauce , add extra black pepper, Parmesan and chopped flat leaf parsley. If the mixture is too thick, let it down with a little of the pasta water.
Serve in warmed bowls with a large glass of Cornish Blackberry gin and tonic and I`ll come and rescue you anyday. xx
