THE MOM:
14, October 2012
At lunch at the pub with our friend Louise the other day, Alex was so convulsed with laughter he was actually weeping, listening to DK relate an episode from Key Changes, his memoirs. I can’t recall seeing him like this, ever. He told me he thinks his father is the funniest man he’s ever met.
Alex had asked for a copy the night before but I assumed he was just being polite and never in a million years would get round to reading them, but emailed the chapters to him anyway figuring that would be the last we’d hear of it unless we (yet again) managed to set ourselves up for disappointment by saying “So, sweetie, have you started Daddy’s book yet?” and Al Pal, clearly having never read word one, would say “Oh. Yeah. Really mint. Hey! Where’d all my good cereal go?!” but not only has he been reading two or three chapters every night, he’s even quoting from them, and just after I turned out the light I got a text saying “This is a bloody fantastic, touching read, I’m really impressed, it’s so moving!” and it took me a few seconds to process it came from our son just down the hall.
SECOND FAVOURITE QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Mum, doesn’t Mabel need to be fed? Ill do it.”
Then for dinner he tried a new recipe I’d pulled from something, Bacon and Tomato Cakes, which were spectacular.
I keep looking at him, half in wonder, half wondering.
What has happened? Does not having heroin in you suddenly make you a nice person? Or is this just a setup, one that I haven’t cottoned onto yet. I told him at one stage that his pupils were like pinpricks. Alex asked me if I’d seen my own, pointing out we were both facing the sun.
Be nice not to have to notice things like pupils, one day. On the other hand, we’re spending a lot of time looking into one another’s eyes thesedays, so maybe a good thing.
BACON AND TOMATO CAKES WITH POACHED EGGS
2 tsp olive oil
200g good smoked bacon, fried crisp and crumbled (save grease)
500g cooked, stiff mashed potatoes (cold, or if making from scratch, do not add butter, milk or cream as they won’t hold together)
2 ripe plum tomatoes, de-seeded and diced
2 TBS chopped chives plus extra for garni
flour for shaping and dusting
30g unsalted butter
4 or more large eggs, poached (3 min approx)
Mix potato, tomatoes, chives, bacon. Season. Form into 4 round cakes. Chill for 15 minutes. Fry in a little oil or grease, turning once, until browned. Top with poached eggs and garnish.
Talk about how fabulous it is between mouthfulls. Or inject.
Recipe looks yummy! Nice post!