Waste not, want not ...

Some weeks ago, at about the beginning of our period of self-isolation, we looked at the amount of food that we were wasting. A Shepherd’s Pie would be eaten one evening, and then put into the fridge, with a view to eating the remainder at some time in the near future. Inevitably other meals were cooked and the remainder of the Shepherd’s Pie would be thrown away.

And so we decided we would not waste food (whilst so many people in Cyprus were relying on food banks) and a new deal surfaced. The remains of evening meals were combined with other bits and pieces, and the end result was some lovely and unexpected combinations. Half a tin of baked beans (left over from breakfast) would be combined with a pasta sauce (I always make too much) and reheated with Basmati rice, and a couple of boiled onions. Delicious.

We won’t solve the world’s food shortage but it does mean that what we buy is what we use. Money saved has been used to furnish basic food supplies for a local group who provide hot meals for people in the area who have fallen on very hard times due to the pandemic. Our lovely local kiosk (a sort of mini-market) put the food supplies together and delivered them to the collection point at the bowling alley (I know) and all we needed to do was pay them by card. Interestingly they refuse money and only accept food and other necessary items. So total transparency and no “what happened to the money I donated?” questions.

It is eight weeks since we decided to self-isolate and the slight easing of restrictions by the government will be welcome. Slowly, slowly ...

A cloudy day today and then what looks like sunshine and blue skies going on and on, according to the weather forecast. Ann and I are celebrating a joint birthday on May 12th (I unilaterally moved my birthday to May this year as it was too cold and wet at the end of February) I suppose in future years I could have a birthday and then an official birthday (rather like the Queen). Now there’s a thought.