Brussels Confidential

The Power of Prayer and Saturday Kitchen

Don't ever tell me that prayer doesn't work. Because I think it does and I always will.

Results from Dad's latest check-up are stellar! The tumour in his esophagus has almost reduced to nothing, there are no signs of the cancer spreading and from all tests and indicators, he is a recovering man.

The other day, Mom said that she just knew - when he was really sick - that it wasn't time for Dad to die because she knew he wasn't through driving her completely crazy. I love that!

So that's the fantastic, amazing, great news I have. Dad is better. In fact, my Mom, my nephew and Dad's nurse were all in the Doctor's office when the Doc delivered the news. The minute the Doc stopped talking all three of them said 'You're not sick anymore Chuck' in unison. That's code for 'No more acting like a helpless, selfish invalid!'.

Got to give Dad credit. He's responded to gentle persuasion and now is up and about doing all sorts of chores. His nurse is glad to help him get dressed, negotiate the steps and get him settled in to those daily routines he was so good at before he got sick. Opening the mail, petting the dog, polishing silver, shuffling papers from one side of his desk to the other - or 'paying bills' as he says.

I am so proud of him and so thankful to my Mom and friends and family who have helped.


OK - hate to change the subject so drastically, but I have to

Subject: BBC - Saturday Kitchen with the dreamy James Martin. I only have a few comments - for today that is...

1. James Martin is such a welcome, refreshing change to growly, grisly, sloppy and grouchy Antony Worral Thompson - and he's cute! THANK YOU BBC
2. I do like the idea of having a celebrity guest on the show - but please - check to see if the guest actually eats food, likes food, and does something other than show their breasts on page 3 of crap newspapers for a living.
3. You can never have enough of a good thing - Rachel Allen and Michael Caines should be on Saturday Kitchen as guest chefs as often as possible
4. Why do you have your knives and utensils on the right side of your stove when you do all of your work to the left of it? You look ridiculous crashing in to your celebrity chefs every week while trying to get around them to get to your tools.
5. And last but not least - shame on BBC for those terrible questions to win seats at the Saturday Kitchen table. Come on. You should have some real culinary questions to be answered by people who know food and deserve to have a spot at the table.

posted by Brussels Confidential @ 9:14 AM