Effort

We are having another "Jamie meal" this week. THE Jamie Oliver put together a cook book entitled 30 Minute Meals. In it, he shows you how to put together some wonderful meals in 30 minutes. Now, this is not just one course- quite often it includes dessert- we usually go for those ones. The meals are great, and do tend to only take about 30 minutes, although the kitchen does look like a pack of baboons have been let loose in it.

We haven't done a "Jamie meal" for some time now. It's funny that, you begin something, get into it and then life seems to take over. Before long, you think about the last time you took part in something and it's not been weeks, but months. And for some things, years.

Now, perhaps some ideas are just that, ideas, and after a few attempts, it all gets a bit boring, not worth the effort. There are some things, where, in pursuing them, the outcome is important. You just haven't put in the effort.

For me, I find it strange that I have continued with a consistent effort at work, day after day. Yet with things involving family or friends, I look back and think "why haven't we kept on at that?"

So, I get into a habit of going indoor rock climbing with one of my best mates, every Tuesday evening. Then I have something at work, the next week, he does. Then we are just too busy. Before we know it, we haven't caught up for months.

"Jamies meals" are not really about the meals, they are about Em and I sitting down and chatting. Talking about stuff, getting to know where we each are at, being together. When you have kids, these times are precious. So, when you look back and realise that it has been months since the last meal, well, that means I haven't put enough effort into making sure they happen.

So, it's a meal this week. Back to climbing on Tuesdays. Then Em and I are getting some 'earth hours' happening- where we turn off all electricity and talk by candlelight. Then there is the going out for an actual date...

More effort required.