Love of Poetry

I grew up with a mother who loved literature and would often quote lines of famous poems,(and Shakespeare,too.) As a school boy, it just did not excite me; English Literature was a dreaded class especially if it was an afternoon one. I struggled to stay awake as we ploughed through Silas Marner or an equally tedious novel. Or a poem that simply had little to link it to the real world in my limited experience. Then one day, our sweet English teacher, Miss Wyatt, with her shock of grey hair tied up in a french bun, the epitome of an "old-school Ma'm " made us read Rupert Brook's The Great Lover.

"I have been so great a lover: filled my days
So proudly with the splendour of Love’s praise,"

Those opening lines that get your attention, then go on to a list of wonderful everyday things described with love. It is not about romantic love but seeing the wonders of the world around you. It ends as follows - 

"This one last gift I give: that after men
Shall know, and later lovers, far-removed,
Praise you, ‘All these were lovely’; say, ‘He loved.'"
Rupert Brooke's existence on Earth will be remembered by future "Lovers" who notice the things he named and remember that he, too, loved them.
It struck me as an amazing way to be remembered. Not by inventing great things or creating Art, but by loving the ordinary and viewing those things rapturously.
I had a new appreciation for poetry. It became a life long love that I shared with my mother. She opened up many great poems for me. That specific poem also led to one of the greatest friendships of my life, when a friend's girlfriend, later his wife, saw me reading it one day, and squealed how much she loved it too. It became a bond with us for the rest of our lives. And so many more wonderful poems, books, art and other creative endeavors.
Rupert Brooke's sentiment remains a touchstone of all that I have done and experienced later. I keep hoping that others, following on after me, will see a frozen waterfall in winter or open a forgotten space and see a beautiful, but dusty, Blue Willow china plate and think "Oh, Michael would have loved this."
Thank you, Miss Wyatt.

Basic Chicken Curry

Daddy cool's basic curry recipe --

1 lb (approx.) Chicken Breast

1 jar of Patek's Mild curry paste

1 Tbs of Olive oil

1 (white) Onion

2 cloves of garlic

teaspoon of tomato paste

1 cup of chicken (or vegetable) broth

2 bay leaves

1 cinnamon stick

2 chili's 

Put oil into saucepan (or as Margo would say -- "It's a POT micha!!"  Anyway, I call it a saucepan, usually a 2 quart size,  at medium heat. Dice the onions up small and add to oil Cook till onions become translucent.

Smash the garlic cloves and chop them up. Add to translucent onions. Cover pan on low heat for about 5 mins, you'll smell the great oil onions & garlic aromas. You do not want to over cook or burn ingredients here.

I have been using 1 lb of breasts, will be 2 full breasts I think. Either cut the breasts into small pieces. or as when  Andy & I usually make it we cut  2 breasts into 4 pieces.

Add the curry paste to the onion mixture,  stir, add about 1/3 of broth, stir again, cover and cook on low for about 10 minutes. Keep checking because you do not want mixture to burn or stick to bottom of pan. Then add chopped chicken, stir. Cover and cook for about 5 mins. low to medium heat.

Now add rest of broth. Stir, throw in bay leaves, chili's. I suggest you leave them whole, not diced. If someone wants "hot" they can add a splash of sriracha sauce to curry on their plate.

Stir, add cinnamon and tomato paste cook for about 10 to 15 mins. Just poke chicken bits to ensure they are cooking and softening.

It should be ready.

Take out Bay leaves & cinnamon before serving.

Serve with rice... although, I've been taking to just putting the curry into a wrap lately; or with a piece of Nan bread. I find this will serve 3 people easy.  Usually with sauce left over for a late night sandwich!!

I would guess you just double up everything as your needs to cook for more people occurs.

Micha

More about Music and My Life (from one of my shows.)

Welcome. to  When  the lights come on again. on Community Radio 97.5  I am Michael Lavalette.  

Starting with Irving Berlin's great "There's No Business Like show Business". There was a  film of the same name, but it was  based on this song which is featured  in Annie Get your gun. It is sung by Ethel Merman and an ensemble cast  The first few songs today are all from shows or movies. After the show business ditty, we have the very popular Jeanette McDonald & Nelson Eddy singing "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life". It is from the film Naughty Marietta which was based on a 1910 Operetta. My mum loved this film and I saw it in the late 50's when the BBC showed old movies on Sunday afternoons.

More songs from Broadway or film productions. First, Shirley Jones & Jack Cassidy doing "Almost Like Being in Love" from Brigadoon. I saw the film as a child in Calcutta. Hated it !! Even as a child I usually loved musicals, this one was a yawnfest for me! Then, "Love Me or Leave Me" by Doris Day; it is from the film of the same name.

Here are 2 tunes I never tire of, I hope you enjoy them as much. They are the epitome of 40's & 50's music. "Nancy (with the Laughing Face)" from  Frank Sinatra and the lilting "Mockingbird Hill" from Les Paul & Mary Ford.

Once again, artists that represent the best of that period - Miss Peggy Lee with "You Gotta Have Heart". Miss  Patti Page's "I Went to your Wedding" and then the fabulous harmonies and sophisticated word play of "Glow Worm" by The Mills Brothers.

A favourite of mine, "Carolina Moon" from  Connie Francis and one of the many versions of  "I Remember You" a hit from 1941 done here by Brit  Max Bygraves

Coming up is a classic Doo-wop from the  Dubs, "Could This Be Magic." Followed by the amazing "Twilight Time" from  The Platters, and the magic of Carl Perkins' Rockabilly tune "Matchbox."  Carl also recorded a live version with Ringo and friends that I have played previously when as Daddy Cool,  my alter-ego, I host the Beatles and Beyond  at 6 pm Atlantic time. 

The early 60's saw Folk music becoming popular with the American record buying public. Here is "Michael (Row the Boat ashore)"  from the Highwaymen. It was a No.1 chart hit  in the US and UK.

Some hits from the early 60's showing off amazing girl & boy groups, "Be My Baby" from The Ronnettes and "Heart and Soul" from The Cleftones. Two 45RPM's I played constantly back then.

The last song on the show is "Hey Baby" from Bruce Channel. The legendary hit that brought him to tour the UK, with the Beatles opening for him; Although, in Liverpool, they had equal Billing. The great harmonica intro by Delbert McClinton was admired by John Lennon, but it is a myth that Delbert taught John that playing style. He was already using it in Germany. Great song though. 

SONGS

There's no Business Like show Business - Ethel Merman

Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life - Jeanette McDonald & Nelson Eddy

Almost Like Being in Love - Shirley Jones & Jack Cassidy

Love Me or Leave Me - Doris Day 

Nancy (with the Laughing Face) -  Frank Sinatra

Mockingbird Hill - Les Paul & Mary Ford

You Gotta Have Heart - Peggy Lee

I Went to your Wedding - Patti Page 

Glow Worm - The Mills Brothers

Carolina Moon - Connie Francis

I Remember You - Max Bygraves

 Could This Be Magic - The Dubs

Twilight Time -  The Platters

Matchbox - Carl Perkins

Michael (Row the Boat ashore) - The Highwaymen

To Know him is to Love Him - The Teddy Bears

Be My Baby - The Ronnettes

Heart and Soul - The Cleftones

 Hey Baby - Bruce Channel 

Cars & winters in Canada

Something that may be helpful if you own a car and live in Canada (or the northern regions of the U.S.A.) is to know what the automaker suggests as the optimum starting procedures. I know, I know, first, the fancier new ones merely require you to put your foot on the break pedal and press the "Start" button; however, a second option for us plebs with cars that require an ignition key and the twisting thereof, may need different associated procedures.
My current Dodge, is best if you keep your foot off all pedals, and as I twist the ignition key to initiate  the ignition process, I press the accelerator pedal twice.
My 1978 Ford, preferred it if you pressed the accelerator to the floor before turning the ignition key on and holding it down until the firing process kicked in.
If you do not know what is best for your car, might I suggest  you open the Owner's Handbook and see what it says. (!) One upon a time, it used to tell you handy tips like that. Or, you could ask "Siri" or "Alex"  or perhaps simply your "Car Guy" ---  who of course, may very easily be a "Car Gal".