I’m exhausted. I’m simply exhausted. At the start of the weekend I somehow had the energy to take part my now weekly exercise ‘class’ and afterwards engage in the most interesting and joyful three hour conversation. However, it was, for some reason downhill from there, I’ve been in my pyjamas for the rest weekend, I could not find the energy to do more than scroll through the horror that is social media. I think that was the problem, but now does not feel like the right time to switch off and turn away from what is happening. The world continues to burn. There is anger, rage and pain, flowing with abundance. It’s not that it was not there before; but with the world on a kind of pause, we have to listen and those of us who have been silent before, must talk. Maybe when we sift through the ashes, we might find a way to live with each other in a meaningful and respectful way.

In the mean time, there is always baking. It is soothing and comforting. I am in control and the outcome in most cases is good.

I made another banana bread this Sunday. I had purchased some mini – silicon loaf moulds from Amazon because I thought using something smaller much help with my cooking process.

I successfully made 4 mini-loaves. All perfect. They are so small that is tempting to eat a whole loaf in one go!

And so, baking aside, there is of course, so much more to write. So much more. I have been writing down my thoughts, feelings and reflections on what has been happening in the past few weeks. I’m sure I’ll share at some point. I too have had more time to think, these events and subsequent dialogue and discussions, have dredged up memories, experiences that before now I had chosen to keep and process in ways that maintained a veneer of calm acceptance of the status quo. It’s 2020, it’s time to talk, it’s time to listen.

BTW, the recipe is the same…

Ingredients

4 ripe bananas

200g plain flour

200g caster sugar

50g softened butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 egg

Method

1.Preheat oven 180oC

2. Mix all dry ingredients together 

3. Mix all wet ingredients together 

4. Mash bananas

5. Mix wet and dry ingredients together and add banana.

6. Sprinkle brown sugar on the top before placing in the oven. 

7. Use a well greased bread pan.

8. Bake 30 – 40 minutes 

9. Leave to cool in the pan before removing in order to firm up.