Thursday, March 26, 2020

Royals, Doctor, Cleaner, Movie,

Being a royalist at heart, I was very upset to see Prince Charles had tested positive for Covid 19.  Apparently he hasn't seen the Queen for a while, nearly two weeks ago, so hopefully she is safe at 93 and therefore Prince Philip who is 98. My fingers are crossed.

I was concerned to know if my heart attack had in any way compromised my immune system so I faxed my doc and got a phone reply this afternoon. He had my file in front of him and said no, heart attack shouldn't affect it but my pre-diabetes condition and my age would. Knew about the age of course, but not the pre-diabetes. I cracked a comment that I had read loss of smell was an indication therefore I must have had the disease for 20 or more years. He assured me that loss of smell was misinformation.

We had something of a nasty blow today, our cleaner came this morning and did her usual excellent job. She said she was losing clients and was going to suffer financially She seemed happy and cheerful and not particularly concerned.. She was going to apply for some assistance she had heard of. I then suggested she should come in tomorrow and help me clean the silver as well as bring up the shopping. Thought it would help. In the afternoon I phoned her to change the arrangements somewhat and she immediately told me she was not coming again. Just like that, she has got her financial assistance, $2,000 a month for 4 months, so she said she was so scared of the virus she quit. She didn't seem to care that I was now in something of a bind. I guess I made a mistake thinking we were friends. I was somewhat upset. However, our friend's son and daughter-in-law agreed to come in after all although I felt guilty at messing them around so much.

Talk about coincidence. I found a movie on TV tonight called Outbreak which was about a virus that the government had designed and which had escaped. The whole thing was so apposite for what is going on right now. Excellent movie, Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman, Donald Sutherland, Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding and son on and so on. A real list of stars. I really enjoyed it although under current conditions it kind of gave me the willies. Donald Sutherland made a pretty good baddie. Of course Dustin Hoffman was the doctor who saved the day. I have always enjoyed Dustin Hoffman's movies whether it be a thriller like this one or a comedy like Tootsie. I never did see The Graduate. Maybe I should try and get hold of it one of these days.


I thought this looked an interesting recipe.

Soto Ayam

Soto Ayam is a chicken soup popular in Malaysia and Indonesia. Easy, authentic and the best soto
ayam recipe. Serve with rice noodles or rice cakes!

1/2 pack rice noodles (8 oz)
2 Tbs cooking oil
1 skinless and boneless chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 stalk lemongrass, cut into 3 strips
1 can coconut milk, 13.5 fl oz (400 ml)
1 can chicken broth, 14.05 oz (411 g)
1 cup water
Salt, to taste
Spice Paste:
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
4 shallots, peeled
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 piece turmeric (2-inch), peeled or 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
1 piece galangal, peeled and sliced (2-inch)
1 piece ginger, peeled and sliced (2-inch)
1 Tbs fresh lime juice
Toppings:
2 cups bean sprouts
2 cups sliced cabbages, optional
2 hard-boiled eggs, cut into wedges
1 stalk spring onion, cut into rounds
2 limes, cut into wedges
Fried shallot crisps

1. Soak the rice noodles in warm water to soften them. Set aside.

2. Blend the Spice Paste in a food processor. Add some water if needed.

3. Add the oil in a pot on medium-high heat. Add in the Spice Paste and stir with spatula back and forth until aromatic.

4. Add in the chicken broth, coconut milk, lemongrass and water. Bring it to a boil. Add in the chicken breast cubes. Cover the pot and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. Add salt to taste.

5. Blanch the rice noodles, bean sprouts, cabbages (if using) in another pot of boiling water. Transfer them to a bowl once they are cooked. Add the Toppings of hard-boiled eggs, spring onions and add the hot chicken broth into the bowl. Serve hot with lime wedges and shallot crisps on top of the noodles.

Servings: 4

Author: Bee
Source: Rasa Malaysia

Have a great day
 

15 comments:

  1. I didn't realize you were a royalist at heart. Me too! It's like real life fairy tales. I also hope they all stay safe.

    That was certainly rude of your cleaner. You're the one most at risk from her visits, not the other way around. When this is all over, I'd put in for a new cleaner!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well of course they are only human like the rest of us but they do live different lives. And they don't know where Prince Charles contracted the virus.

      Already asked the woman "next door" to clean for me. Not definite yet because of the virus situation.

      Delete
  2. The Soto Ayam looks good - and has me wondering whether I could make a vegie version. Probably.
    I am so sorry to read that your cleaner left. I understand her fears, but sadly some financial assistance seems to have been the trigger for her to leave clients in the lurch. Which is so unfair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does, I haven't studied it enough to think of how you would convert it Sue.

      Very much so I think. I was somewhat hurt as I thought we had become friends over the years.

      Delete
  3. Sorry to hear about your cleaning lady, Jo. I suspect that this virus is instilling fear into many, and her reaction, though abrupt and insensitive, has its roots in fear of the unknown. Close contact is certainly a hazard. Miriam made a mask for me. I know it doesn't block the virus, but it does stop me from touching my mouth and nose. i wear it when I am in a public place. I have Purel in the car and use it both before and after shopping, I wear gloves when I pump gas, and I wash my hands the moment I come into the house. And umpteen times more during the day! It's a wonder my skin stays on. Even after all that I wouldn't even consider visiting friends. This pandemic has changed the behaviour of many and the kind of behaviour modification occurring may become ingrained. To end on a positive note a young graduate student I have mentored in ornithology a little, sent me a sweet email saying that she would shop for us if we wished her to, and would drop everything off at the doorstep. And another young couple, dear friends, one of whom is a busy physician, offered their help with anything we need, and (they are Jewish) offered even to make Latkes and Kugel for us. We don't need help, and better they apply their efforts to those who do. I am blessed, however, to be touched by such people. i am sure you feel this way about Ladydog. As for royalty, bah humbug! Pampered, spoiled bunch of inbred twits!

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    Replies
    1. People are being helpful David, very true. I don't get out an about too much so don't need so many precautions.

      I'd forgotten you were so anti royalty.

      Delete
  4. Sorry to hear about Prince Charles. But being healthy should help him a lot. I hate the way the numbers are presented for this virus. In China, only .0004% of the population was infected. (if I did my math correctly) We need to put the numbers in perspective.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This web site might interest you Denise. https://ncov2019.live/ it was invented by a 17 yr. old I understand.

      Delete
  5. I am reading the Detroit Free Press and there is a local doctor saying that the loss of smell or taste could be a symptom. I don't think any of these doctors know exactly what is going on. Maybe someone's nose is just stuffy.

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  6. My math is wrong and it is .04%. So delete the comment. Sorry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Check the numbers on the web site I gave you.

      Delete
  7. That was rude of your cleaning person, especially after you offered to give her more work.

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  8. I am so sorry to hear the lady just quit on you after she got her money. She is not thinking when this money ends is she? If she just quits everyone she has left, she will lose customers. Knowing how she treated you, I wouldn't want her back even though I know you need someone. I am glad that your friend's son and his wife can help because you need it. I know Outbreak with Duston Hoffman..that's the one with the chimpanzee as ground 0. Pandemic is another film with Gwyneth Paltrow being patient 0 but her husband being unaffected. Scary movie that can happen but not this time.

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  9. Wow that was surprising with your cleaning lady. Wonder how many will employ her again when this lifts? I wouldn't.

    Betty

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