Making the Cut…

The kitchen is the hub of any house.

Much more so than the lounge and especially since TV’s have become redundant, replaced by laptops and even phones now. Who knew?

And to think I recall watching in wonder a colour television for the first time. Now I am barely able to turn my TV on…

Check Source and HDMI 1…

Anyone?

And this is somehow progress. A cruel irony then that my TV is called ‘smart’, so what does this make me – the dolt who can’t use it.

The kitchen remains the main stay of any home – for now at least, under threat also from the mobile phone and their pesky apps. Getting a take away used to be a thing. An operation. Seeking a consensus on what food. Delivered or pick it up yourself? I prefer picking it up because I reason it is more likely to be freshly cooked – and be hot. But now everyone delivers and with just a click – and easy as you like, my account is debited.

For now at least, most of us are still cooking – or warming up at least , anyway – because eating remains the very best part of every day.

‘What shall we eat tonight?’

The question we ask ourselves every day.

For the Holland household at least, the kitchen is a hub and a busy communal space. And with no real rules and so many options, it is unsurprising how often things are lost and how frequently tempers flare.

Where are the f****** scissors?

Another frequent question and never asked quietly or politely.

Something about scissors. So useful and frequently required. But never to hand because they are never returned to their designated place, ever. Always lost. I’ve tried to solve this by buying multiple scissors but the results are the same. We just have more pairs of scissors that are nowhere to be found.

Egg cups, the same. How many times have I been reduced to using the egg box as an egg cup? It works okay. Obviously, it fits. But the aesthetic is poor and my lunch/breakfast is ruined by frustration. At least with scissors there is logic to their disappearance. That someone might have a use for them elsewhere in the house – like wrapping presents.  But egg cups?

Nikki accuses me of being unable to find things. She says I am incapable of opening my eyes and looking properly. Incapable also of putting food in the correct compartments of the fridge.

“Oh so what. It’s all cold, right?”

Our kitchen is hub but a war zone also. Frustrations can run high, for instance when things can be located but they no longer work.

Knives that used to be sharp. But now they struggle to cut even bread.

Scissors that jam. That tear more than cut.

Non-stick pans that stick.

Or a dish washer that is too needy and always in need of something… rinse aid, salt, a rest or just a damn good clean itself.

But such things can be overcome. Some kitchen gadgets can work to a point and still be tolerated. The blunt knife can be pressed down harder, or sharpened of course. We can make blunt scissors work by taking things slowly and being patient. The sticky non-stick pan can de doused in oil…

But there is one kitchen gadget which absolutely has to work at full function. A gadget where anything less than full function is a real problem; creating frustration but potentially  real danger also. Life altering injuries have been known when this gadget doesn’t do its thing.

Any thoughts or ideas what this might be. We use it regularly. No kitchen is complete without it. They can be electrical or mechanical and they range from simple to complex. But the task and result is always the same.

I give you…

The humble can-opener.

The part working can-opener is no can-opener at all. Creating a razor sharp puzzle to get to the contents.

Maybe a take-out is the safest option after all.

 

31 essays or more nonsense like this are compiled in this latest book – Takes on Life – on this site and online.