Shhh! He’s in a Meeting … (Again)

It’s surprising how noisy a kettle is whilst boiling.

As the Colonel logs onto yet another meeting, I snarl and curse at myself for not having made my coffee before he started.

I’ve tried various methods of quietening it, such as covering it with a towel, but that was met with much waving of arms and pointing. Apparently it was a fire hazard. I’ve tried filling it only half full, but nope, even noisier. So I wait until the meetings are over, the phone calls end and then I make a dash to the stove and make a large pot of coffee … bliss.

I tiptoe around our open-plan apartment wondering if it would be rude to suggest his meetings move to the closet. I ponder over buying an electric kettle which I can attach to a power socket in the corridor outside and I momentarily ponder whether I have an addiction to coffee and obviously dismiss this immediately.

But let’s brush, swoosh and whoosh away the negatives … for positivity shall reign, and my positive news is … that I have mastered the art of the Chocolate Soufflé. I have conquered my fear of the sinking soufflé.

I shall admit this is not world-breaking news, indeed most of you can probably already make this light as a feather, airy and moist ramekin of deliciousness. It is heaven in a bowl with a dollop of ice cream. So much so that yes, I use that awful cringe-worthy word moist which in my squirming mind sits alongside soiled and gusset. But I digress, it is such a piece of heaven that I would be willing to forfeit my coffee for this utter delight.

So whilst we enter into another groundhog week of the same again, I search again for something new to dilute the monotony. We’re safe so there’s no complaining, but I must confess to a sense of pleasure in an achievement so small. Perhaps I shall try the Japanese soufflé pancakes or start learning Swahili on Duolingo. Either way, if the Colonel could perhaps make his way to the closet with his laptop and phone, I could make that darn cup of coffee …

Kx

Ps. Do you have a positive that obliterated any negatives from the weekend?

80 thoughts on “Shhh! He’s in a Meeting … (Again)”

  1. Hi Kate I’m so impressed that you can make choccie soufflé – well done – yippy and yummy! I hope you aren’t going too stir crazy and I’m thinking of you loads during the lockdown. Take care of yourselves Lol Katie xxx

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    1. Aww thanks! Hope you’re all well too. Time to do more cooking … apparently I need cream of tartar to make a fruit one but I’ve run out, so shucks, it’ll have to be chocolate again! Xxxx

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  2. The Colonel is very fortunate you are so diplomatic – I fear, given a choice between coffee and disrupting a meeting, I would relish my cup of French roast :D. As for positivity, our hummingbird feeder has been a hotbed of activity this past week – hours of entertainment.

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    1. Ha! Oh how lovely … yes, now I’d be glued to the window watching the birds. I shall google what hummingbirds look like.
      Oh my goodness, they’re BEAUTIFUL! Have just seen images of them, and they’re stunning … so many different colours. This might be a silly question but roughly where are you and do you feed them something special to encourage them? Katie

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      1. Yes, they are really incredible little birds! I’m in Austin, TX, U.S. You’ll find varieties of hummingbird over most of the U.S., South America and parts of Canada, but if you live in a colder climate you may only see them during warm months when they migrate. They normally live on flower nectar. You can get hummingbird nectar concentrate (sugar, water, coloring and citric acid) and a hummingbird feeder (specially-shaped and colored bright red) to feed them. Just hang it outside and wait! If you have red or yellow plants like hibiscuses it will also help to attract them. Once one finds you, it may get a bit territorial. It will do its best to keep other hummers away. They are very squeaky and temperamental but they are so tiny it’s adorable to watch.

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      2. That’s brilliant to know. Thank you! I’ve never seen them. We’re in Manhattan but have friends who live on Long Island, perhaps they have them there. What an absolute joy to watch them … nature at its absolute best. Many 🙏 thanks. Katie

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  3. Ah, chocolate soufflé! I am going to try that. I have found that making and eating nice food helps a lot. Although, it is a beautiful day out, and I think attempting a walk later outside (all masked up, of course, sigh) might be even better for today. I hope you get your coffee soon!

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    1. I’ve found an app called Yummly which is brilliant. It has masses of different versions to try. I only had limited ingredients so used the one that worked with what I had. Easy peasy… plus there are loads of pictures so I knew what it was supposed to look like! Have a lovely walk today … enjoy the sunshine 🌞

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    1. Ahhh … so you understand! Do let me know if you have any recommendations for books. I’ve just ordered Angela’s Ashes but will need lots more if we’ve got several more weeks of this! Happy reading. 📖

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      1. In my Sunday post I jotted off some things I’ve read lately. What are you interested in? Or, what would make you content to read right now?

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      2. Oooh thank you … Will have a look at your post (Sorry am behind on reading posts let alone books!).
        That’s hilarious … I love what you’ve written!
        “The Two Lives of Lydia Bird” … I certainly won’t be bothering on that one then!
        I quite like self-help books … loved Primates of Park Avenue as I found it amusing, even though it’s not a self-help, it was just really interesting. The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother was enlightening, but I wanted to slap her. The Sober Diaries was brilliant even though I don’t have a drinking problem … but those are the sorts that I’ve read recently. I’ll go through your suggestions again and see what might work. I’m trying to think what my favourite book of all time is and am struggling. 😬 Do you have one?

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      3. My fave is Pride and prejudice…but last year, my two favorites were A gentleman in Moscow, and Daisy Jones and the Six. This year, I loved The a Water Dancer and Remains of the Day. If you like self helpish, Maybe you should talk to someone is really quite good

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      6. I love Pride and Prejudice over anything and I rush into a defensive mode and fighting my lungs out when someone calls it romance 😀

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      9. I was nicked Mr. Darcy by my friends because of my obsession with Pride and Prejudice although I would liken myself to Elizabeth Bennet more, her free spirited demeanour and her bravery! Oh how I wish I could live that era.

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      10. Yes me too!! Or perhaps the twenties/thirties. I asked my husband the other day what superpower he’d like to have … he said to fly … I said I’d like to travel in time. So yes, to go back in time would be fascinating!

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      11. Oh yes! And honestly growing up reading the English classics I romanticise that idea of balls, and walks, of the grey rains and vast patches of moorland. Oh what would I do to teleport myself to that era.

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      13. Oh yes! I cannot think of a better Lizzy than Keira Knightly. In the Joe Wright film when they are travelling towards Pemberly and she stares out into the cliffs, I was floored 😀

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      14. Me too … and the scene in the rain when they argue and they so nearly kiss … ahhhhhh!
        Funnily enough I bought the dvd when it came out and one of the options was to watch the film with Joe Wright talking over it about how and why he did various things … why he filmed from a certain angle, how he caught the light in a scene … etc etc. Fascinating! A true genius.

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  6. I bought a headset. The mic is directional enough that the family can live their lives without significantly disrupting my meetings. Given that my desk is in the family room 10 feet from the kitchen, and such it must be in our overstuffed house, this was the best way I could strike a balance.

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  8. I feel your pain! My husband is a special education teacher now working from home and more than once I have had to try to tiptoe around or whisper when he is on some kind of facetime meeting or whatever.

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    1. In truth, that’s what I’d always been led to believe, hence the excitement when it went so well! I did it again last night but this time used up some rather old and cheap chocolate that Ikea we’re selling last year (!) and it wasn’t quite as good. It didn’t melt and mix in so well, so I guess using good quality chocolate probably pays off 😄

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  10. No one can expect to replicate working conditions in a home environment. The clanging of dishes, the noise of the kettle, the screaming of two fighting kids… All to be expected. And nothing would come between me and my morning coffee… Meetings be damned!

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    1. Haha!! Yes, I think I shall order one online! A lot of people out here seem to have kettles on the stove … I always had an electric one which I liked because it lit up blue when it was boiling and you can use see how much water you’d poured in! (Simple pleasures for a very simple woman!!). Xxx

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    1. Crikey now there’s someone who really likes their coffee! Interesting read … thank you. Good luck with working from home … I bet you will love it!! Um, how old are the children??

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      1. Our daughter is 11 going on 15, our oldest son is 7 and younger son is 10 months. My “home office” is the kitchen table. A perfect environment for some focused work!

        I’ve never got into coffee, most people look at me very strangely when I say I don’t drink it (or builder’s tea, just green tea, mint tea and variations). I could see me enjoying coffee in a similar way to dark chocolate one day, if not for too many memories of school teachers with digusting coffee breath leaning over me!

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      2. Ahhh yes, I’d forgotten your love of dark chocolate …
        That’s a lovely age gap difference and must keep you really busy. Wonderful! Mine are now so grown up; I do miss those crazy, noisy, busy days even though they were exhausting at the best of times. School teachers did always seem to have awful breath … I had a maths teacher who had hairy ears with dandruff in them. It was really rather grim!

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  13. goodness souffles takes me back; at 20 I took an evening class in dinner party cookery, trying to impress my then girlfriend (now wife so maybe it worked). On about week five we made a mango and something souffle. Said girlfriend was so impressed she insisted \i make it for her parents when they came to stay with her. I did and was so determined it would be the lightest fluffiest I rather overdid it, put it too high in the oven and had the top hanging off the roof of the cooker when I came to take it out. I’ve never managed to win my MIL over and that was the start. Hope you wing the coffee/closet battle

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  14. ‘Little things’, I love that clause. There is so much positivity and warmth in these two simple words when strung together and a source of happiness and subtle joy!
    I can relate to the sudden kettle whistling or my cat meowing loudly or my sister breaking into a random while I am at a work meeting! Hurried I mute, unmute and the routine continues.

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    1. Ahh you understand! Yes, I am learning how to be very quiet. He is an extremely light sleeper which also can be a cause of consternation. One tiny unnatural noise such a a pair of headphones making a tiny click as the earpieces knock together can do it. I am as quiet as a mouse 🐁

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  15. I mastered the French Macaron (really Italian, they stole it back in the French revolution) but chocolate soufll`e I have never made. Trying Italian flatbread at the weekend. Have Kondo’ed two chest of draws and the linen box, who would have thought that I would. Not me that’s for sure. You could learn Telegu if you managed the alphabet I would be impressed. Great post, stay safe and farewell. 🤣😂

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    1. Golly, the French macaron! That’s impressive! They’re absolutely delicious. I was wondering about making pasta? Have you ever tried? I don’t think I need an actual pasta maker, I think a rolling pin might work. I don’t know what Telegu is … will have to google it!! Good luck with the Italian flatbread 😃

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      1. Once I tried it was like fat slugs 🙄🤑 but did it by hand with no flattening mangle. ,Telegu is one of the south India languages, all squiggles 😂🤣. Thank you for the luck. X be safe.

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  18. I definitely can’t!
    I imagine this kettle is better though I’ve only used electric.
    Family time… I’m grateful for my family especially my niece – who also can be frustrating when she gets me dirty.
    Love, light, and glitter

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    1. I think I’ll be happy to return to electric! That’s a lovely thing to say “family time” … yes, that’s what’s really important isn’t it .. I’m guessing your niece is very little! So cute (if a bit frustrating at times!) 💕

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      1. You can get pretty cheap ones.
        Yeah, not yet 2. She’s just started getting frustrated when people come near her when she wants space. Getting very independent and keeping to what she wants. If only she were older you could reason more but she really is precious. It’s interesting and amazing that I get to really see her entering this stage (a month ago when she came she was only sunshine). Lockdown means that they’re staying by us until they can fly home.
        And I’m rambling…
        💕💕💕

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      2. I love rambling!! Yes I seem to remember is being pretty hard work when they’re that age … although I’m so old now that it’s rather a long time ago. So often one forgets and has this wonderful rose-tinted glasses view of it! Hard work but lovely. There’s a funny little poem …

        There was a little girl
        Who had a little curl
        Right in the middle of her forehead.
        And when she was good
        She was very, very good,
        And when she was bad
        She was horrid!

        😂My mother used to tell me this the whole time!! Can’t imagine who she was referring to! X

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  19. Yup. She’s getting there. I need to put my things away so she can’t get hurt on them. I’m lucky that she’s here – even if it gets a bit much at time.
    Love, light, and glitter

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  21. Soufflé…I’m so impressed! I have lovely memories of my mother making the most beautiful and delicious raspberry soufflé with vanilla sauce. My attempts have not been impressive. Your coffee situation made me laugh. We have a coffee maker that sounds like a space shuttle about to take off.

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    1. Ha! I like the sound of your coffee maker! Well done to your mother I say! When we next go to the supermarket I’m going to buy some raspberries as I’ve found a wonderful recipe for a raspberry soufflé! It also needs some cream of tartar but hopefully I can get that too. Fingers crossed it will go well, but I don’t think I know how to make a vanilla sauce …. Will keep you posted. Many thanks for reading. Katie 💕

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  22. sounds like a definite addiction to me … you do need an electric kettle!

    Sunshine and a nice beach walk settle me, as does meditation, prayer, a pod of dolphins dancing by! I’m just so grateful to be safe and healthy 🙂

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  23. A chocolate souffle is pretty impressive. I made some soda bread which is not something I’d normally do; all that kneading and proving. But strangely satisfying. My problem is needing to use the loo when he’s got a business meeting, lav flushing sounds worse than a coffee machine.

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    1. Ha!! Yes the flushing sound … there’s no disguising it! I have to admit that the soufflé was really simple – i just followed the instructions and didn’t deviate for a second … more impressive is your soda bread which takes time and far more effort (and I daresay doesn’t get eaten in three mouthfuls like the chocolate affair!) I can imagine it’s rather therapeutic and of course the smell of bread is like nothing else … we have a bread machine but it’s cheating of course. I often wonder about making pasta but it looks rather fiddly. Thanks so much for reading and I absolutely love finding out what everyone else does. I think your soda bread puts you on a bit of a pedestal! Katie

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