the forever friend

Day 6 of the Game On Challenge, and I've learnt a few things. I'm cataloguing the end of the fresh food. Cursing the chickens who nibbled all my baby lettuces (I NEED those lettuces!!). And I'm learning that if we ever hit Armageddon, what you need even more than a stockpile, a generator and matches, is friends. 

Of course, if everyone was doing the challenge, it might change the dynamic a bit. But I'm not sure. Friends are trading what they have with me, left, right and centre. I'm out of tradable eggs (rest have to go to the food co-op contract), but right now I can trade lemons, bread or biscuits baked at home.

And some friends don't even want to trade, they're just helping out. Greg, the best sourdough maker I've ever met bar none, arrived yesterday with this loaf. Fresh fresh fresh. Perfect crust, a perfect loaf. I'd had an afternoon of rushing around to things, I was very late home, and as I drove past the take away fish and chip place (doing a roaring trade) I felt the pull. But I got home to this bread and also found a packet of spaghetti in the pantry. Hooray. I had roasted cherry tomatoes in the fridge and basil in the garden. Spaghetti went on while I swizzled the tomatoes in a pan with some herbs and a splash of cream and dinner was on the table in 15 minutes. With a splodge of home made sour cream and some grated parmesan cheese, it was super delicious. Accompanied by Greg's bread and our homemade butter. This is eating. 

Another friend, Fi, has offered cheese (oh my goodness that's like gold!) and the real boon is going to be Amy's garden, with excess produce she's happy to share. FRESH GARDEN PRODUCE!! I never thought I'd get quite so excited. 

In the rules of the game, so you know, my business is exempt – so I'm baking this week for the Bikkies, but nothing is allowed to come home. We're buying petrol, we'd have to drop out earlier if we couldn't, and of course we have running water and electricity, something I'm doubly grateful for since we had to do without water all of Wednesday morning (something I suspected Vanessa had arranged, she's pretty talented, but the whole town? That's a stretch.)

I'm allowed to use the produce from my Mum's garden, which means we have spinach and lemons and rhubarb.

Vegies growing in the garden have never looked so good to me. 

I dug out a big bag of rice that I bought to do craft with – we were going to make door snakes – and we're going to eat it instead. Put a jumper on, kids.

Also in the pantry I was thrilled to find baking powder (the big bag of flour I have is plain/all-purpose) and popcorn and strangely, bought curry paste. Excellent. Because I don't have the raw ingredients to make it. And far out I have a lot of pork that I need to think of different things to do with before the family stages a mutiny.

Thanks for all your support, it's a bit nuts this, but nice to know you're following along!

(If you drop in for a cuppa, could you bring the tea?!)

xxx

P.S. Adam and I will be at the Milkwood field day tomorrow, really looking forward to it! Any chance we'll meet you there?