13 May 2010
Back to Basics
As London deals with political change, CON-DEM love-ins and Tory principles of austerity we think back to Prime Minister John Major with his BACK TO BASICS campaign in 1993 which resulted in all manner of jiggery-pokey after Black Wednesday the previous year. Yes, we had to pull our belts in, address moral principles and recover. Thankfully Major had already had the 4 year affair with Edwina Currie while married to the opera loving Norma, the coda shield of family values, but one would like to think that as a young married MP, Major – like any student – enticed Edwina into his room with the seduction of a promise, the promise being a Fray Bentos Steak & Kidney Pie. Now you’re talking.I have found myself in a few dire situations in recovery but going into a Homeless Hostel 11 years clean was one of the lowest moments on the personal failure scale of things. They say darkness is before the dawn, but the sun really did come out when I was offered a flat for life by the local authority a few months later in 1994. I call my flat ‘gifted’ social housing and boy did I earn it. Ten years before, listening to Louise Hay meditation tapes, I laughed out loud as Louise blessed her refrigerator every night, thinking it ludicrous. Now I bless my flat every day in gratitude. We laugh & learn. Once I got in the flat I had no furniture except a 1950′s formica kitchen table, no chair, one single bed, an oven and telly from a friend. Home Sweet Home.
I had learnt to ask for help. Once entering the Hostel I declared to myself that I would never bathe or cook there – and I never did. Over an 8 month period I invited myself to ask people to feed me and use their bathroom, it was like Come Dine With Me without me having to cook – I turned it into adventure. Most weekends someone was away and gave me their flat or sometimes the offer of their second country home to relax in. Recovery offers amazing people. I lived with no mobile or telephone. Yes it’s possible. I learnt to get BACK TO BASICS.
Soon after I moved into my own flat I stocked up. Open the kitchen cupboard and there it was, nectar from the Gods – various tinned Fray Bentos pies and a can opener. My survival rations. For some years I always kept a tin in the cupboard just to remind me where I had come from. Every time the cupboard opened a wave of gratitude would splash my face. Nowadays as I swan daily into M&S, those tins are but a distant memory, but writing this blog my lips are remembering the burning lace like pie crust, the greedy scraping of the tin with a spoon like a coke fiend licking its nose with a far-stretched tongue, the waft of gravy heat steaming glasses and a desire to finish a family size tin in one hit. Apparently that’s the addict in me.
As cuts emerge from Government, and belts once again get tightened, I need to remember that shame holds no purpose in any area of life. To resort to it is a defect of character, so no longer dressed in sunglasses and a hoodie I shall head for SOMERFIELD or some such chav grocery outlet, filling my bag with Bentos tins and shameless memories. So what’s YOUR guiltless pleasure?
Just for today.
Hi Madge
I absolutely love your sweet/savoury(!) story. How very Andy Warhol – I want to scren print the photo of the Fray Bentos tin and cover a wall of the Tate wiv it!!!
Regarding the political state of affairs, I have mellowed slightly from my Militant days, yet had a smile for my elderly friend Shirley last nite at Tai-chi, when she stated ‘Up the Revolution’!!! (we live in a staunchly Tory area) the rich bastards.
Anyway I don’t really have a point here except to say that I love your blog and that I always love the ESH memories that are very touching.
For some years, my biological mother, Audrey, would send a Christmas hamper to me from Oz, packaged in this country tho i think), and my favourite thing would often be the Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie, only an individual one though!
Just for today, I have just scoffed down a Findus Chilli Beef lasagne,(£2 at Tescos), baked beans (cheapest from Somerfield), covered in soysauce. Lovely.
munchie love, Jackie
Jackie
May 14th, 2010 at 12:50 pmpermalink
I’m glad you liked the meat in the pastry Jackie and my blogs, I must try your ” munchies ” for a night in with the telly – Findus – there’s a brand to remember. Love the Fish Fingers with Heinz Ketchup. MMMmm.
theswarmite
May 15th, 2010 at 10:35 pmpermalink