In true Bridget Jones style, I thought I’d start to list the number of times that I’ve managed to run versus the coffee, (mine’s always a double espresso) and alcohol consumed…the week begins on Sunday for me….so here goes
Runs – 3, quite good considering the amount of rain this week.
Caffeine – 12, currently three per day
Alcohol – 2 units (quite good, so far)
During supper last night, Older Daughter calmly announced that her school was about to start a program of drugs testing. They’re planning to urine test the children in year 10. So not her year, thankfully. Apparently, three mothers have complained to the school. At another school, that many of her friends attend, they brought in the dogs last week. Shocking, I thought.
It’s not the first time the subject of drugs has come up. According to The Boy, lots of his friend’s take drugs. Some every day. They are 15. This seems incredible, to me. He share’s this information like he was talking about the intake of sweets. So ordinary, so regular, so everyday. I run thro’ a list of names of boys that I’ve met, he answers yes, to nearly all of them. He claims there’s no pressure on him to join in. They know he’s not interested. He’s strongly opposed to them, thank goodness. Younger Daughter joins in, yes it seems, even some of her friends (at just 13) have experimented. We’re talking marijuana but I still find it deeply unsettling.
A brief search of the internet, informs me that my children’s school isn’t alone. Many start as young as 11. Cannabis, remains the drug most heavily used, but there is increasing evidence that very young, sometimes 11 year olds are experimenting with the hardest of drugs. By the age of 16 nearly 1 in ten boys is using drugs regularly, including heroine & cocaine, with the statistics for girls only slightly lower. As parents, what are we to do about this?
A call to the sixth form administrator, reveals nothing. She does’t know about it. She tells me to send an email. I persist. I want information. I tell her that it’s not the first time my children have told me about drugs in the school. I want to know what advice the school has for parents. Reluctantly, she agrees to go away and find out. I’m left pondering…..waiting for a response.
I discover www.talktofrank.com It’s full of advice, mainly for children and includes some truly shocking stories. Quite by accident, it seems I’ve done all the right things. I’ve listened with respect and an open mind; I’ve given them the facts about drugs; I’ve encouraged them to talk about any peer pressure that they may feel. I’ve shown them stories in the newspapers about the dangers of so called ‘legal highs’, chemicals in bath salts, plant feed. I’ve told them, it’s ok to say ‘NO’, firmly and without negotiation. And hopefully the fact that it’s discussed so openly at dinner means my children haven’t gone there, yet. But, I’m left feeling that this isn’t the end of it. I need to educate myself and this is an ongoing conversation, but I wish there was more information for parents.
Generals Tso’s Chicken is taken from my fav book of the moment, Every Grain of Rice by Fuchsia Dunlop. I’ve made dinner from it three times in the last week. I’ve bought a wok, once you’ve done all the peelings & slicing, suppers are quicker than ever. I doubled this recipe to serve, 5. Serve with Rice.
You’ll need –
- 350g boneless chicken thighs
- 6-10 Dried chillies
- approx 350ml cooking oil or deep frying
- 2 tsp chopped ginger
- 2tsp chopped garlic 2 tsp sesame oil
- sliced spring onions (optional)
- For the marinade –
- 2 tsp light soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 egg yolk
- 2tbsp potato flour
- 1 tsp cooking oil
- For the sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato puree, mixed with 1tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp potato flour
- 1/2 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 & 1/2 tsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp water
1. Cut each thigh into three pieces. Combine all the marinade ingredients and pour over. Set aside.
2. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. finely chop the ginger & garlic and using a pair of scissors cut the chillies. Remove the seeds.
4. Fill a wok with the 350ml of cooking oil and deep fry the chicken in small batches. 
5. When done remove to a bowl lined with kitchen paper to drain the fat.
Carefully pour the oil into a heat proof jug and wipe out the wok.
6. Wipe the wok, then fill with a little cooking oil and carefully fry the chillies. Do not allow to burn.
7. Add the ginger and garlic.
8. Add the mixed sauce ingredients and allow to thicken slightly.
9. Add the deep fried chicken. Mix well & cook for a further 4-5minutes. Stirring constantly
10. Add the sesame oil to the wok. Mix well.
11. When fully cooked remove to a bowl & serve immediately.
The Dinner Run... 