Day FourtySeven

Leap year

and nobody knew until Facebook announced it on the newsfeed

or until people came to the desk to check out cz 

they thought it was March 1st,

like Zeed for instance.

So Monday funday

and it's my shift for cooking dinner.

I'm always excited to cook but the pressure of not succeeding to cook for many,

or the success my stew with couscous has had,

has made me reluctant to try something new.

But!

Today!

Chadya is in the kitchen and I've become the sous chef

for the day.

She's promised everyone an African dish with vegetables and peanut butter sauce,

and chicken for the meat-eaters.

We make a list and evolve ourselves around the meal.

Typical middle eastern ritual if you're asking me;

where the womaen's day consists of 

thinking what to cook

listing the ingredients

going out to get them

washing and chopping

and cooking them.

And it was that we did; we went out to get the ingredients we had listed,

and the ingredients we then washed, chopped and cooked.

Our feelings were mixed about making too much or too little

or if we should use chili or no chili

or make more salad or less because the food was too much now

or whether we need salad at all with this dish,

until Alex confidently said 

'it's always nice to have salad!

I like to have salad with my meals.'

Alex has a tendency to save the day.

And we thank her for that!

People are walking in and out the kitchen,

smelling the ginger and peanut butter,

grabbing a cucumber slice here and there 

and appetising themselves for the big feast.

The #dinnertime arrives and we all gather around a table.

A five-day family extended to a family fo life,

cz to gather around the table with others over cooked food

is not something everyone experiences;

at least not so intimately;

at least not so culturally.

We serve the rich thick sauce over warm rice and eat on a table with 12.

It's always amazing to have so many people 

welcomed and making space for each other to join.

No-one left out.

We complement the chef and I get complements for the salad as

we stay around and chat while the night fades out to different directions.

Sahtein.