The Last Supper

What a beautiful Vegetarian Lasagna you produced!
 Even Philomena asked for the recipe - high praise indeed!
Well old girl - you certainly went out with a bang.
 I'll miss you.

My oven churned out it's final meal. Twenty one years of service and wonderful service at that. Mind you the Bosch is still going strong and isn't officially dead. It is however totally cracked up, like a very heavily wrinkled old lady, looking much worse for wear. But it's still providing gloriously baked dishes for the people in my life.

It's been quite a while now; visitors enter the house; take one look at the oven; look at me and ask "what's wrong with your oven?" It's made me very defensive of the old girl. Nothing! I retort. She works like a charm and why should I chuck her out simply because of how she looks.

There's history in that old girl. My kids have all been raised on the goodies she's pumped out. Birthday cakes, graduation cakes, celebration cakes, any ole cake, casseroles, roast pork, roast chicken, roast lamb and let's not forget the wonderful glazed ham at Christmas. I just read back this sentence. I need a whole page and I still wouldn't cover all the dishes she's baked over the years. 

I was surprised. After bringing home the 'new girl', I thought I would feel slightly emotional seeing the old girl removed from the centre of the kitchen and then replaced.  But instead, I went "ooooh wow".  I liked the nice new Bosch sister beaming right back at me.

The old girl sat outside; it was then and only then I saw her. Really saw her. Yep. She's passed it. I had to admit it. The seal was completely broken off and hanging from the insides. The outside? No words needed - it's pretty obvious. But for whatever reason, I simply didn't want to see it. I knew her. I knew her inside out. Like a faithful dog, she did what she was supposed to do and she did it so well.

I think she lived with us for much longer than do most ovens. Everyone I know has had their ovens replaced; Philomena replaced her oven twice and she began with the same Bosch oven as did I!

I retrieved the racks and the heavy baking tray. They'll be great for barbie's on the farm, says Hubby. He puts her in the back of the car, drives away and I didn't even wave her goodbye. I look through my kitchen window and she's gone. Thanks old girl. You were absolutely marvellous. It'll be interesting to see how the new girl and I get on. It won't be easy; she has one super act to follow.

It's a funny thing. It's not like I can't afford it. Mitch was trying to get me to upgrade to the latest fandangled oven with all the bells and whistles. I barked at him. No!!!! I want simple. I want white (most of them are stainless steel). I want Bosch. 

Am I strange? Why do I feel so differently? Why don't I just get the top of the range? It's like my mixmaster. I own an old Kenwood Chef - made in 1974. Made in Australia and looks very plain. She sounds like a road train whenever she runs and my water glass rattles on the bench while she runs. She's not a bright, colourful, expensive KitchenAid attracting attention and dressing up the kitchen bench like a rich bejewelled woman.  And that is precisely what I like. My kitchen gadgets are as basic as can be; the older the better.

Ooops. I've just twigged. It's not the appliances that shine in this kitchen. They are merely the tools. It's outcomes that interest me. Not fancy gadgets that offer topnotch bragging and superficial fashion rights.

In this kitchen the things that shine are the food, the vibe and me. 

Thanks old girl in doing your job and helping me to shine for all these years.