This has been a week from another planet all together.

Every time I turn on the radio, all I hear is that we need to use less water or else we are heading towards day zero quicker than expected.

How much more water can I save? I have been washing cowboy style every morning in a bucket in freezing cold temperatures, praying that I don’t get frost bite or worst get hypothermia and get frozen naked in a bucket in the shower. I have enough dry shampoo in my hair that should someone light a match next to me, my hair will combust. So please tell me, how much more water can I save???

Then someone spread a rumour that the entire country was going to shut down on Friday and well that just sent everyone into a tailspin and it added more stress to my already stressed out nerves. Customers where phoning me and asking me was it true, no offence but I know as much as you know, and that is the information that I am reading on social media. Trust me when I tell you, I really have no idea if the country is going to come to a stand still or not. I have blocked Cyril so he has no means to contact me anymore, I want no part in his decision making anymore.

It really shouldn’t be affecting me like this, I am normally chilled, but three nights in a row, I have landed up sleeping on the floor in my own room. I play with my brother and then I pretend to sleep so he will sleep and then I land up falling asleep. My parents don’t love me anymore, they see me sleeping on the hard wooden floor and they don’t even lift me or carry me to my bed. I have asked them why they keep leaving me, if they loved me that would carry me and both parents have thought this is the funniest question to be asked and they both always reply that if they tried to move me, they would break their backs they need a crane to move me. Don’t worry I have the old age home on speed dial for them… just kidding, but they do just leave me there on the floor to sleep and then I battle to get off the floor in the morning and now my body is paining in places that only old people have pain in.

For the two nights I did manage to sleep in the bed, it has been rough. My brother thinks that at 1am in the morning it would be a great idea to climb onto my pillow and stick his bum in my face and then lift his leg and lick his family jewels. Not the most romantic sound or site to look at first thing in the morning. I have attempted to shove him off the pillow to which he growls and barks at me for disturbing him, as if its his bed that I am in sleeping in and not my bed that he wants to play boss over. Did I mention that when I shove him off my pillow he runs to our mother to whine and at 1am I am getting shouted at for interfering with the small boss.

While sleeping on the floor, I discovered a recipe book that I bought so long ago and because I couldn’t find it, thought that I had someone donated it to the church book sale by mistake. I was soo happy that I found it that I could not wait for lunch time to come around to make something from it.

The first recipe I chose to make was a simple mince curry and I served a 1kg packet of bicarbonate of soda on the side with it, because my dad just heard mince and he was already rubbing his chest and burping. Who knew a word could give someone indigestion. I think I may has discovered a new form of transmitting illnesses. Keep you eyes peeled, I could be appearing in the newspaper with my Nobel award, but in my case the headline will most likely read, Daughter kills father with mince overdose.

All in all, this recipe was super easy to make, super tasty, my dad’s reaction when he lifted the lid was why is there carrots in this dish. Indian people do not cook with carrots and I replied by showing him the book, see Indian author, Indian food, Indian recipe with carrots, recipe from Durban, you from Durban, its your family that came up with this recipe. I am from Port Elizabeth, we don’t use carrots in PE food. He ate the mince but picked every single carrot cube out of the mince and left it aside. I did ask if he liked the recipe when he was finished eating and all he could say was, “I’m still alive.” So dramatic I tell you. So dramatic.

Ingredients:

• 5 x tbsp olive oil.
• 1 x tsp jeera seeds.
• 1 x tsp soomph seeds.
• 2 x pods star anise.
• 2 x cinnamon sticks.
• 2 x green cardamom pods.
• 2 x black cardamom pods.
• 1 x onion, finely chopped.
• A few sprigs curry leaves.
• 1 x tsp ginger garlic paste.
• 1 x tsp turmeric powder.
• 500g x mince.
• 2 x carrots, peeled and finely chopped.
• 1 x tsp coriander powder.
• 2 x tsp jeera powder.
• 2 x tsp garam masala.
• 2 x tbsp Kashmiri masala.
• Salt to taste.
• 1 x bay leaf
• 2 x tomatoes, grated.
• ½ x cup frozen peas.
• Chopped fresh coriander to garnish.

Method:

• Heat the oil in a pot.
• Add the onions, curry leaves, bay leaf and all the seeds.
• Add the salt and give it a good stir.
• Allow to saute till the onions are transparent.
• Add the grated tomato, mix and cover the pot with a lid.
• Allow to cook till the tomato has released its water.
• Add the ginger garlic paste and spices.
• Toss to mix and cook for a few seconds.
• Add the mince and allow to cook for a few minutes, break up any lumps that may form.
• Add the carrots and peas and some water.
• Cook till the carrots are soft and there is no more water left in the pan.
• Remove from the heat and garnish with chopped coriander.