Wally's tales

Yes I know that I have strange eating habits, well some people consider the food that I eat is strange. I’m really fond of all offal which some years ago would have been considered normal. If you don’t know what it is, it’s the odd bits of animals, that most other people won’t or don’t eat. I really like Tripe, Sweetbreads, Ox Tails, Liver, Kidneys. Goodness, we even had Tripe Clubs in several of the Towns where we lived. Not only that, they were very popular with a large following. So it’s not just me that has a taste for offal. Offal properly prepared, is one of the gastronomic treats for the table. But today sadly in this country, it’s getting really difficult to even source offal, particularly Tripe. For most Supermarkets it’s just a No, No. As an aside, I have no idea what’s happened to another delicious item, Lamb Tongues. They have just completely disappeared from the food scene. They were mostly supplied processed in cans with a jelly meat. Simply delicious when served up with a salad. Slowly over time they changed in their presentation. Once they were skinned, then they came with the skin on, then in a very small can at an exorbitant price. Then no more, gone, maybe they were just too expensive to process? A marvellous tasty food that is no more. Something we have enjoyed for over 150 years.

Once the Bourgeoisie, and the Lord of the manner, ate the meat roasts and steaks, in fact all the prime cuts. The serfs, and other disadvantaged, had to make out with what was left. People then were so hungry, they didn’t look too hard at what was being dolled out. Thank goodness for Alison Holst, her cook books are full of old traditional recipes for such dishes as Brawn, Liver and Bacon, and various Pates. With her help I know that I’m not barmy after all. Today if you purchased a few attractive slices of Brawn for a salad from the local Delicatessen, and were unaware where it comes from, you would never guess it was made entirely from a pig’s head. If many knew this today they would refuse even to taste it, let alone eat it.

Many people I know don’t like certain offal. These folk know this instinctively, never having tasted any of these foods. I have arrived at the ‘check out’ when shopping and I have been lucky enough to find some offal such as tripe from the meat section of a Supermarket. I have without fail heard the operator say, ‘What’s that’? And on being told, ‘Oh Yuck’! I ask, ‘Have you ever tried it’? No. Many today know instinctively they are not going to like something without even trying it. Yes I also know with tripe while cooking it smells a little, but three or four changes of water soon fixes that. I observed while staying at a farm in my youth another young guest from the City wouldn’t eat the farm butter. However he was quite happy with when it was served up to him wrapped in a commercial label. A neighbour too, wouldn’t eat ‘store bought’ Fruit Cake. He demanded his wife bake cakes especially for him. His wife dutifully went through the charade of taking it out of the oven under his nose making him very happy. (once of course that she had removed the commercial baker’s wrapping). So a lot of perceptions and taste are all in the mind.

My son has a small farm and on occasions uses the ‘Farm Kill System’, this is where a Mobile Butcher calls and quickly turns a cattle beast into meat packets ready for the freezer. I’m alway on hand to gather up Ox Tails, Tongues, Kidneys, livers. The butcher said, only one in twenty of his clients bother at all with the offal. These valuable bits are always thrown out, or given to the dogs.

I have had a lot to do with the French, Japanese, and Chinese communities over my lifetime. I find with food I’m completely in step with all of them. They are all very down to earth when it comes to harvesting meat from any animal. But these cultures continually surprise me. They also throw very little away when it comes to food. Sometimes if you didn’t ask, you would never guess exactly what you are eating. However things can change. Surprisingly now. it’s not unusual to see items such as chickens feet being packed for sale in the Supermarket. Maybe we have turned the corner with this acceptance. I have eaten this food in a restaurant, but I’m convinced that it’s more their batter that’s the tasty part, not the feet.

Some today are vegetarians, they are lucky with many foods being sourced from all parts of the world so it’s easy now to get many of the protein your body requires. But I’m puzzled when I see today’s ‘Models’ strutting down the ‘Cat Walk’. How skinny they are. Is this a result of being starved of protein? Or is it how we want our girls of today to look?

We human beings are a strange lot. We consider that we are intelligent, clever, more than able to figure out all manner of things for ourselves, even the simple things, even knowing right from wrong. Full of compassion; yes that too, However with all these things in our make up, we always seem to be overlooking something. In fact there must be an alarming discrepancy in a large part of our brain, it could be that somewhere there is a empty blank screen, waiting to be filled with some nonsense or other. Possibly a reason for this is that we have descended from pack animals and retain some of their characteristics with a built in need to be led around. I have observed that we are prepared to elect and follow leaders mainly by their physical appearance. If they are big in statue, look strong, attractive, and look what we consider a leader should look like, then we assume, that they must have the brains to go along with their physical appearance. Are in fact leaders? In many cases they are not. Some I have found when tested by events, in fact have the mental age of children. And you don’t have to look hard to find this condition, you’ll find it in all walks of life, whether it’s the Military Services, large organisations, or Politics. Far too many have this built in fault. We have over the years had some very narrow squeaks in believing and accepting this factor, especially with the military sector. God knows what mistakes this hidden ineptitude can be sheeted home to our political leaders. Over time we have been blessed with Military leaders who are actually dressed up dummies. In peace time, slowly but surely they have ingratiated themselves into positions of power. None it seem have ever been tested in combat. It doesn’t seem to matter, they strut around giving to all and sundry the feeling of security. But when actually called on to act, seeing that the moment of truth had arrived, they were found to be wanting, but sometimes fully conversant of the tactics of how to fight an earlier war. When we needed to call on them, thinking that all would be well, to our horror of we found these Guys unfortunately were only equipped for pomp and ceremony. They didn’t have a clue of how to fight a war. They loved to line up the military equipment in rows, which as it turned out, made to make it easy for the enemy to take it all out in a pre-emptive strike. They had been so busy over time painting stones around military buildings and other spit and polish exercises, and they seemed to have forgotten or didn’t understand the real purpose of what their job entailed.

America too had their share of these Sunday soldiers who did all of the above and worse. They scorned the use of technology that they had available. Once you start to read History you see just how stupid some of these folk have been. In world war I we had Generals still believed in and well versed in Calvary Tactics. That there was still a place for the horse. They persisted in this outmoded form of warfare; ignoring the fact what machine guns were doing to their troops. Killing hundred and thousands of troops under their command, refusing to accept what was happening in front of their eyes. Again with World War II, these folk were around again in many theatres. One that engagement that stood out, was that of the defence of Singapore. What a disaster that was in every respect. Our main heavy guns pointing out to sea, only problem with that was the enemy came in through the back door. Heavy reliance on Battleships with no air cover, no one seems to have told he Military that things had moved on, and what Aircraft could, and did do. Battleships at Pearl Harbour had had their day. The Japanese pointed out this mistake. The ‘experts’ wouldn’t have listened to any advice then, even if had they had been told. The Americans were lucky that they were able to rid themselves of these spit and polish warriors early in the War, replacing them with real leaders.

This eagerness to fill this blank section of our brain manifests it’s self in other areas. It’s apparent with our willingness to join and follow Cults, and other equally strange religions. Once accepted and imprinted, the doctrine or belief no matter how strange soon after people have been recruited, it would seem there is no escape, it’s also very difficult to reverse damage the brain washing has done. Some are even prepared to even prefer death rather than change their beliefs.

In my youth, Railways and Trains were King. Yes, there were bus services, but they were not popular unless you happened to live along their route. At that time all our roads were sub standard, just plainly bad. They wound around every obstacle in their path, which didn’t make for an enjoyable ride, even for a short journey. We at this time were very familiar with and the accepting of rail Transport. It was fast, and shifted a large number of people with ease. Also, we were introduced to it at an early age. Because once we arrived at secondary school age, it was now necessary to travel to complete our education. We then all travelled into the City in ‘Special’ School Trains to attend the various Secondary Schools. At this early age all carried in our heads the rail timetables. We also knew just how long it took to walk from any part of the City to catch our conveyance. Even if you attended an evening movie, you knew exactly what time to leave the theatre to catch the ‘last train’. As a ‘school boy’ the travelling time was sufficient, if you were smart to complete any home work.

Locomotives at this time were fuelled by coal, which was plentiful and cheap. This fact alone gave the service an edge. The Railways were also a wonderful asset for Governments, in that it gave them a perfect tool and buffer to keep the country in full employment. There was always room for a few more bodies in the repair workshops, or maintaining track. The city too was well serviced by electric trams which were also cheap and efficient, so getting around was possible and not a problem

The engineering to build or maintain rolling stock was relatively simple, well within our engineering ability at that time. The Locomotives at this time were kept meticulously clean, their paint work and brass and copper fittings bright and polished. No easy task considering their constant proximity to smoke and grime. An engine ‘steamed up’ smelt of hot oil and paint, it also gave the impression of immense latent power. No wonder the American Indians called locomotives on their arrival an ‘Iron Horse’, steamed up, they gave the impression of being alive and a never ending source of wonderment for boys of all ages.

Our School trains were made by adding four or five carriages to the 8-15am morning train, same again for the return journey after school. The carriages supplied were usually very ‘Old’ possibly vintage, even nearing the end of their service life, quaint too, with copper spittoons fitted into the floor along the length of the car. Gas lights with mantles were fitted, but they were devoid of any form of any heating. Sometimes, these carriages were pressed into service when the local Church or School arranged a ‘Special Picnic Tour’ by train to take the locals to say Middlemarch, or Wingatui or perhaps Warrington beach. Hundreds would take advantage of these outings. All armed with rugs, hampers of food, and the other requisites of comfort that could be easily carried by hand. A this time only a few were fortunate enough to own a motor vehicle. A chance to enjoy a special outing by train, was something we all eagerly looked forward to. One disadvantage was that a train couldn’t drive up close to the beach, or a riverside picnic spot selected for the day’s outing as we do today in a car. So some walking was always called for. But given a fine day we would still have a wonderful day away.

Seeing the railways played such an important part in our lives, it was only natural that the Railway Stations also had their place in the smooth running of the system. They controlled the departure and arrival of trains with a ceremony that involved ringing the station bell blast of the guards whistle and a wave of a green flag signalled all was OK. Then a blast from the engines whistle. The stations were also depots that received freight, and sold passenger tickets. This operation was under the care of a Station Master, and officers right down to the lowly porters. They as well, all seemed to contain a ‘Waiting Room’ it was always full of black over stuffed uncomfortable chairs, a dreary place, and most noticeable by the fact that they were never used. As well, in a Station you could dispatch or pick up a parcel. This was in direct competition with the Post Office, but it was an exercise in frustration. We often used the system as they were cheaper, but didn’t deliver. They also employed a most archaic dispatch system, surrounded in ‘red tape’. To send a parcel no matter how small, it was necessary to fill in a dispatch form, (in quadruplicate) which was full of large words, such as Consignor, Consignee. To be fair, they had no way to differentiate the difference between a small package or 10 tons of coal, the procedure was always the same.

Steam Locomotives had drawbacks, one failing was they didn’t condense their exhaust steam as a marine steam engines did, so they had to make frequent stops to replenish their water supply. This water was mostly carried behind in an tender with their coal. Some engines had huge saddle tanks strapped onto each side of their boilers. In country areas each station had a massive circular wooden water towers. All of these were of the same design and carried more than enough capacity for any locomotive to quickly replenish its water. Some are still standing today.

Sadly the era of steam train has passed, but not the concept of rail travel itself. High speed magnetic levitation trains for medium and short hauls will shortly be a threat to air travel itself. Aerodromes are being pushed to the outskirts of towns and cities, where trains are able to start and finish their journeys from the City Centres and can travel smoothly at high speed.

There has been talk recently that News Papers in the form that we now know, are doomed and to go the way of the dinosaurs ceasing publication. Any copy in the future will be entirely electronic, and only available to be read from a computer screen or a like device. I sincerely hope this is incorrect, as I really enjoy my daily paper in it’s present form. But like it or like it not, one by one our newspapers are slowly disappearing. They are no longer able to foot it against competing media for advertising. For me, a newspaper in it’s present form is one of the day’s pleasures. It’s informative, and keeps me abreast of all I need to know. Over the years papers have undergone many changes, in fact not all have actually failed financially and fallen by the wayside, some were purchased by their competition to deliberately shut them down. I suppose too Television has paid it’s part in this ‘progress’. Evening papers were amongst the first to go when they found they couldn’t compete with the immediacy of TV’s six o’clock news. Also, seeing that there is only so much paid advertising to go around, when they had to share the little that was available it wasn’t enough to justify publication,

The public as the end user, for years had to be on the ball to collect his paper early especially on wet days, or as soon as it was delivered. Fail to do this and the penalty was being presented with a soggy mess; unless of course you were able to bribe your delivery boy to put your paper in a safe dry place. All this today has taken a turn for the better, papers now prior to delivery, are tightly wrapped in ‘cling wrap’ at the printers to protect and weather proof them.

I also remember brother David was once a delivery boy of the Dunedin Evening Star. He was paid the princely sum of two shillings and six pence, (That translates to 25 cents) for six day week of deliveries. However David over a year of trudging over his delivery route was able to turn his financial reward into a brand new BSA bicycle, a remarkable achievement.

Once when we lived in Queenstown, the town didn’t have a newspaper delivery service. As well you had to wait until noon when the daily busses arrived in from Dunedin, and Invercargill. I would then join the queues to buy a paper. So when we visited Dunedin, one of my pleasures in life, was getting up early, bringing in the Otago Daily Times, going back to bed, sometimes bathed in sunlight to read the morning news. Living in Queenstown with the mountains all around we didn’t get such a thing as the early morning sun. I could do it now, seeing that we are living in Christchurch city, but I wouldn’t wish to read today’s paper in bed as today’s newspapers seem to use an ink that isn’t ‘fast’. Anytime you read a paper today I find the ink from the paper contaminates everything it comes in contact with, hands, light coloured trousers, and especially white bedlinen.

One would think that with the extension of television and radio stations news services, newspapers would have folded their tents and shuffled off the scene long ago. Not so, we has been blessed with the arrival of a new phenomena, the free ‘throw away paper’ or ‘neighbourhood paper’. These around where I live are very popular and financed entirely from advertising revenue. Here in our street we receive about three different publications weekly. They are a refreshing change too from what we usually are served up as ‘News’. Palestine, Afghanistan are never mentioned, neither is the mindless Political bickering that’s carried on in Wellington. Just plain local news, and surprise, surprise, it’s exactly what the locals want.

Another area that has been greatly effected by ‘Progress’ and that’s photographs and colour printing. Early photographs were built up from a series of graded dots as well as in a colour scale of grey to black not a sharp image but acceptable. Now with the advances in technology we receive sharp colour pictures which have as well, a degree of immediacy, and can even be transmitted over the phone.