SIMPLY TAKE...!

The words 'Simply take' have started various sentences, and applied to many thing.  For my part, on Sunday afternoon, all that was to be done was to 'simply take' a girl, (yes, I still feel like I am twelve,) a book, a deckchair, a splash of sunshine, a slight breeze, and there was the recipe for perfection.  It was the recipe for perfection on Sunday afternoon!  There was a brief intermission when a new neighbour appeared, and asked for the code to the pool gate.  Had he not been inside the area, I may have been tempted to say "Simply take yourself away and leave me alone", but I have to remember, this is not my pool, and although the joke has become to some a rather embarrassing unwritten rule, new neighbours are completely unfamiliar with "British reign poolside"!  Of course, it is in the vein of such words of jest that gets me into trouble, and causes embarrassment!  As he was standing inside of the area, he must have either known the code, or entered via an illegal method, e.g., put his hand around the fence and opened the gate from the inside.  lt was my day to be Queen, not policeman, so I said nothing. He would be made aware, no doubt, of any infractions by other members of the community.  Like a true Texan, I welcomed him to the neighbourhood! His delightful, and most polite and respectful manner was very acceptable on such a beautiful afternoon, and after thanking me, profusely, as I let him into the secret as to why the lock sometimes has a mind of its own, and how to overcome such anomalies, he did 'simply take' himself away and left me alone with my book, deckchair and sunshine!  I was rather amazed, but I must say, delighted, that no one else wanted to partake of the glorious day. I did not want to leave my oasis.  The book was quite compelling and with each page I turned, I broke my promise to make it the last before going home.  Eventually, I packed up and left.

Raul had returned from visiting his mother, and I am not sure who was more glad to be back.  I was delighted that I no longer bore responsibility for the skimmers by the pool twice a day, and he was pleased to be home.  Our complex is like his 'baby', and he cares for it as a parent raising a child.  He cleanses wounds, bandages scrapes, gives medicine when sick, and generally nurtures.  When he is away, I feel like an au pair, albeit in my own house!  He told me about his trip, and I brought him up to date on the local gossip, of which there was very little!  

Rain had been forecast for the week, but Monday was reasonably dry. It was warm, and somewhat muggy, but in my office, I had no idea of what was happening outside.  All I could see were the clouds forming and dispersing.  A normal day in April in Austin.  

The words 'simply take' were taken, during the ninetees of the  twentieth century, and applied to recipes, by the giant supermarket, Sainsbury's.  The idea was to 'simply take' ingredients, found on the shelves of their stores, put them together, and voila create a sumptuous repast that would be fit for a Queen!  (No doubt, fit for a King, also, but I was still in my Queen mode!)  If these words were some how copyrighted, I continue in ignorance of the fact, but I believe as more than a quarter of a century has elapsed since the first recipe card, I am not in violation of any law!  However, I digress, (covering all bases,) and continue with my story!  I wanted to make something different for dinner on Wednesday, and looked through my stack of recipe cards.  The 'simply take' cards gave me an abundance of ideas.  We were going to have an English supermarket dinner!  

Tuesday morning, I started my Hazelnut Chocolate Terrine, recipe courtesy of Sainsbury's Chocolate Lovers book.  Of course, making the terrine the day before is all well and good, but it is best to have the dish 'set' after all the pieces have been put together, rather than trying to assemble them afterwards.  It is like making the concrete before the bricks have arrived, and somehow hoping they will stack and adhere!  Once back from our walk, I solicited my daughter's help and we quickly put the terrine together before setting occurred.  

By the time I arrived home on Tuesday evening, the terrine was set
and I was rather glad I had foreseen the possible disaster!  After their 'workout', I joined Samantha and Grant and walked around the complex.  "Are you in a race", asked a man who stood at the top of the hill, accompanied by my French neighbour.   I told him that we were, and that I was winning.  He laughed, as he had watched us slowly climb the steep incline as the rain started to tumble.  Something was out of place, but I could not quite comprehend as to what it was.  "Where's the accent from?" continued the man.  "England" said I, still feeling a little unnerved.  "Yes, but where?"  There, I had detected something.  It was his accent, but it was not familiar.  When I told him, he said he was originally from Swansea! (Wales.)  I felt my crown slipping!  Queen of the area, and unable to identify a subject!  I realised it was because I was not expecting it.  'Simply take' the girl out of England, and with her goes all audible awareness! I asked how long he had been in the USA, and he told me 37 years. "Came for a holiday, and am still on holiday", he said.  He asked me how long I had been here.  I told him that I was in my seventeenth year.  "Here, all the time, in Austin?" he asked, rather bemused by the fact that I had not travelled further afield.  "No!" I said, which made him nod, then caused a frown by adding, "Here, all the time here, in this complex!"  It was as if he felt sorry for me!  He did breathe a sigh of relief when I told him that I had visited all fifty states, but he did not seem to understand why I would want to live in one place for so long.  I did not understand why he would not!  However, it was nice to meet another fellow Brit, and no doubt I will see him again!

I went to Joe on Wednesday, and Gail was there too, so that made it a doubly pleasant experience.  Prior to my journey across town, I checked my 'Simply take' recipe.  'Simply take' is all very well when the items to simply take are on the supermarket shelves.  However, this was written sometime in the 1990's, in England, with English ingredients, and with English measurements. Thank goodness the weights were in imperial as well as metric, as I do not do grams!  However, a tablespoon by any other name....  When is a tablespoon not a tablespoon?  I could go on!  It is interesting to note that I never 'simply take' everything I need and put it in front of me so that it is easier to work.  However, spoons are the one thing I have laid out and ready.  If my recipe is English, it is a big spoon, if not, it is the plastic piece that comes with the cups!  When is a pint not a pint?  Oh how it goes on!   The 'simply take' Thai chicken was in English.  (I know, I see the conflict!)  With pints, tablespoons, and ingredients that are not called the same thing here as they are there, my 'simply take' became 'do what you can, and make do if you can't'.  Somehow I did not think that would fit on a recipe card, let alone be encouraging!  I made my marinade, as best I could!

'Simply take' a married couple, two dogs, and then remove the married couple, and replace them with the maternal parents.  What have you got?  A recipe for disaster.  Perhaps disaster is too strong.  "Do what you can, and make do if you can't".  Samantha and Edward were going to try to recreate their anniversary vacation, which had been extended in February due to them not being able to get home!  "Can you have the dogs?" was asked after the "We have booked to go".  I think it was taken as read!  After last time, I was not sure I wanted to do this again, but Dana had agreed!  I started the countdown to their return as I came back to the office from my visit with Joe!

The rain started a little after midnight.  My Thai chicken and terrine had been a great success, and I was delighted that what I 'simply took' had worked!  Lightening struck and thunder cracked, and the dogs went wild.  All night the sky lit with brilliant white streaks, and the rumbles and clashes followed.  I was up before my alarm, and Dana was quick to follow.  He took the dogs to the office, and I set about cleaning my kitchen.  I did not finish before I went for my walk, and hoped that I could continue upon my return, as I started my daily constitutional a little earlier than usual.  However, not only did I stop to chat to Raul, but I saw several other neighbours.  It was a morning for all to be out and about.  My new neighbour whom I met on Sunday was walking his two dogs.  We chatted for a while, and he asked a couple of questions.  I felt like I was the manager of a store, and he needed to know where everything was.  He said he was very bad with names, but he knew another Englishwoman with the same name, so he should remember.  "There are a lot of us", I told him.  He was unsure as to whether I meant Englishwomen, or those with the same name. "Both", I replied!  He seemed confused, but I did not have time to chat for long!  My sense of humour would have to remain a mystery!

The dogs do not like the wet weather.  One of them doesn't like anything that does not involve 'mama' being there, taking him out, bringing him home and not being less than two feet away from him at any one time!  I am not an expert (obviously) on canine behaviour, but it would seem that most are taken outside at various times during the day, and then just before bedtime, and they do what is necessary quickly and efficiently, and their owners can return home after a quick walk around.  Not the two of whom I was in charge.  They are completely neurotic!  It goes with the breed, apparently.  Any noise is enough to make them forget what they are doing.  Whatever they are doing!  Recipe for disaster!  After walking around three times, by which time everyone was in bed, and nocturnal animals had gone out of the area on their nightly hunt, the dogs acquiesced and I was able to go home!

The rain continued, and I slept no better.  Friday morning Dana left with dogs in tow and I set about my housework.  Once again my walk was interrupted by conversation, and it appeared that you 'simply take' the time to ask the Englishwoman and all will be revealed!  I wondered when I became the matriarch!  Perhaps I am the Queen!

I could not walk the animals on Friday night.  The rain was pouring so hard, it was not safe to go outside.  With tornado watches being posted on every channel, there seemed to be no respite.  I was not looking forward to the next few hours!  Thankfully, they did not have an adverse reaction to staying inside, and when I took them out first thing Saturday morning they took their time, as usual.  As a human, I could not comprehend, but will not delve into that subject!

'Simply take' my car, a shopping list, and a light drizzle, and you have the recipe for my Saturday morning.  I spent a good deal of time in the garden centre of the local DIY store, and when I came out I was looked upon by the couple in the next space, with pity.  They had a similar load to me, but their vehicle was an SUV.  The boot was lifted and they started to pack away their wares.  They looked at me, and the mini, and I could see signs of sympathy.  However, when I closed the fifth door, they were still trying to fit in their cart load of plants.  It was my turn to look with pity.  They looked shocked!  'Simply take' or do the best you can!

As I arrived home, it started to rain.  One of my neighbours had told me that her sister was going to be 15 today, and had said they were hoping to go by the pool for a small celebration.  "If you are around...' she said.  I was very touched that she should offer an invitation, despite the pool being common ground for residents.  Not knowing what fifteen year old girls are 'into', I wondered about getting a small gift. I settled on something that is not often considered, but something that someone gave me when I was fifteen, and I felt like a princess, and so grown up.  'Simply take' a bunch of flowers!  They were accepted in the same way that I accepted mine, all those years ago!  Some things never change.  However, as the rain was now pelting once again, the pool was not the place to be, and the lightening forked and thunder cracked for the next few hours.

Thankfully, there were a couple of times during the evening when the rain stopped, and I was able to take the dogs out.  Three times around, noises ceased, everyone went to bed, and they did what dogs are meant to do!

Samantha's message arrived in the small hours of Sunday morning, to

say she was home.  They would not pick up the dogs until later in the day, which seemed like a good idea at the time!  Thankfully, the electric storms had moved on before their flight landed.  Sunday morning was bright, and dry, although somewhat cooler.  Surprisingly enough, the skimmers were not full, but there was little wind during the storms, and the leaves appeared to want to stay on the trees!  My plants appeared to have survived the flogging they received!

Having survived another few days with the dogs, in less than perfect conditions, I have once again come to the conclusion that I cannot 'simply take' anything for granted!  Life without the animals in my house is wonderful, and I look forward to seeing them at the office, and on the odd occasion in the evenings, when I know they are not here for a sleepover!  Life with different spoon sizes is just an obstacle, and not an impossibility!  Life with pints not corresponding is inconvenient when a measuring jug doesn't comply, but not unworkable.  'Simply take' an Englishwoman, a few ounces of alternatives, a pinch of common sense, and a heaped tablespoon (any language) of patience, and you have a modicum of success.  All in all, my life is full of a lot of 'simply take' to make ........... another story!