Curry and children
Recently we visited my 97 year old aunt. My daughter and one of my grandsons came too and it was great fun to have four generations together. I made a lamb dhansak (a dish of Persian origin) that has always been a favourite, but I'd never cooked it before. Fortunately, my aunt loves spicy food and is willing guinea pig for my monthly culinary efforts.
After lunch there was happy talk, many questions and some photographs. One, I had never seen before, was of my two older brothers, our younger sister and me at my uncle's wedding. I was just five. My father's younger brother, an officer in the Royal engineers, was a dashing groom and his young bride beautiful. I thought both of them had stepped out of a fairy tale.
In the photograph, unlike my siblings, I'm smiling broadly and that's rather odd. I may have been recalling the fun when my dog, Grip, ran away with my sister's bridesmaid dress that my mother was making. It was yellow and had fancy ribbons, which I think is what attracted him. I thought it was hilarious, a reaction shared by no one else, and Grip and I hid under the dining room table to escape retribution.
I hope that's why I was smiling because I had disgraced myself twice that day. Firstly, I had eaten a slug. My eldest brother had organised a slug race to keep children amused while we waited for people to arrive at the church. According to him, impatient with my slug's inability to either walk in a straight line or race I had eaten the creature. He swore the story was true although I honestly don't remember, but I suppose there are some things one does not want to remember. Secondly, during the service when the Vicar asked, “Does anyone know of any impediment,” the only voice to answer him, was mine. “When can we eat the cake?” I do remember that, and have always been very fond of cake even at inappropriate moments.
Today's children seem so wrapped up in technology that I was musing on the above on the way to give a library talk about butterflies and bees based on my books; The magical world of butterflies and The busy world of bees. I am used to speaking to adult audiences, not to children, and I have to admit that it was with some trepidation that I confronted sixty, seven year old children. I had barely started when a sea of hands shot up with questions. And what questions too. Some of them already had knowledge of insect anatomy and were happy to use the correct Greek and Latin words in our discussion. It was a joy and above all demonstrated an interesting phenomenon. Children are uninhibited and ask questions. They are curious and want answers. Adults can be inhibited and, I think, worry about making fools of themselves.
I came away from the talk a happy man, faith restored that those children are every bit as inquisitive and adventurous as I was at their age. I wish them a life full of cake and fun, but no slugs.
I have been asked to do more library talks and I am really looking forward to them.
After lunch there was happy talk, many questions and some photographs. One, I had never seen before, was of my two older brothers, our younger sister and me at my uncle's wedding. I was just five. My father's younger brother, an officer in the Royal engineers, was a dashing groom and his young bride beautiful. I thought both of them had stepped out of a fairy tale.
In the photograph, unlike my siblings, I'm smiling broadly and that's rather odd. I may have been recalling the fun when my dog, Grip, ran away with my sister's bridesmaid dress that my mother was making. It was yellow and had fancy ribbons, which I think is what attracted him. I thought it was hilarious, a reaction shared by no one else, and Grip and I hid under the dining room table to escape retribution.
I hope that's why I was smiling because I had disgraced myself twice that day. Firstly, I had eaten a slug. My eldest brother had organised a slug race to keep children amused while we waited for people to arrive at the church. According to him, impatient with my slug's inability to either walk in a straight line or race I had eaten the creature. He swore the story was true although I honestly don't remember, but I suppose there are some things one does not want to remember. Secondly, during the service when the Vicar asked, “Does anyone know of any impediment,” the only voice to answer him, was mine. “When can we eat the cake?” I do remember that, and have always been very fond of cake even at inappropriate moments.
Today's children seem so wrapped up in technology that I was musing on the above on the way to give a library talk about butterflies and bees based on my books; The magical world of butterflies and The busy world of bees. I am used to speaking to adult audiences, not to children, and I have to admit that it was with some trepidation that I confronted sixty, seven year old children. I had barely started when a sea of hands shot up with questions. And what questions too. Some of them already had knowledge of insect anatomy and were happy to use the correct Greek and Latin words in our discussion. It was a joy and above all demonstrated an interesting phenomenon. Children are uninhibited and ask questions. They are curious and want answers. Adults can be inhibited and, I think, worry about making fools of themselves.
I came away from the talk a happy man, faith restored that those children are every bit as inquisitive and adventurous as I was at their age. I wish them a life full of cake and fun, but no slugs.
I have been asked to do more library talks and I am really looking forward to them.
date
newest »
newest »
I would have asked about the cake too! HA!
Annamarie