“There is nothing like a plate or a bowl of hot soup, it’s wisp of aromatic steam making the nostrils quiver with anticipation, to dispel the depressing effects of a grueling day at the office or the shop, rain or snow in the streets, or bad news in the papers.”
Louis P. De Gouy, ‘The Soup Book’ (1949)
And boy, oh boy, have we had all those things; the grueling day (tired eyes, sore back), the rain and the bad news in the papers. It has not snowed, but our freezing temperatures did have me looking out of the window on occasion to see if there were icicles dangling in the trees and shrubs. I predict that the dogs will soon have to be rushed off to Pete-The-Vet to be treated for cystitis; they simply refuse to get out of their beds to go outside for their routine Pinkelpause.
On the subject of toilet breaks, I took one from my workload a short while ago and was saddened to read that Pietro Ferrero has died while in our country on a business trip. This brilliant businessman quietly went about doing much to assist with educating the children ofSouth Africa about HIV & AIDS. Must be a devastating blow to his family and the entire Ferrero group.
And now time to fortify myself with my bowl of soup and get myself back to my desk. The weekend starts on Thursday here, and everyone is flinging work at me from all angles; I guess they want to get their jobs to the printers on time, as the printing industry closes down completely until the 3rd of May.
Oh, to settle back with a glass of wine instead …
So sorry to hear about Pietro Ferrero, especially so young and falling off a bicycle in our beautiful CT. Think I’ll join you with a comforting bowl of soup for supper, Cindy…and will think of you with that heavy workload. Hope you knock it on the head soon!
I need to stop for the day now, Naomi, can’t see straight anymore
I love soup….I have plans for a comforting chicken soup number in the near future.
I had no idea Pietro Ferrero had done so much in SA: must look up more…
I’m going to have another bowl and go to bed, Kate
Good soup could heal the bad day
I hope so Tes
How sad…he was so very young.
Yes, Charlie, he was.
So good to hear of people who quietly help others. And the bowl of soup dos look very comforting indeed.
Plain is often best, Caro, I am too tired for fancy tonight.
soup is more than just food
Bowls of life affirming stuff
Lovely and nourishing-looking soup… I do love soup – have made more soups this past year than perhaps throughout the rest of my lifetime.
I expect I have done the same, Ruth
Just think of the lovely green stuff which you can spend on a trip down to me!
I am missing you very much
i luv the ease u have with connections and vicariously imagine that my yankee self has the same. thank u for that indulgence. keep on!
Thank you, Doc, for your constant encouragement
I am really sad to admit that I was somewhat relieved to see that he died of natural causes Cin. A really happy way to pass into the next life. On a bike!
Yes, I will admit that my breath caught when I first read the news and I though ‘please, not again!’
Sad for the family of a man in the prime of his life. I’m having the same problems on the client deadline front at the moment – a glass of wine at the desk, perhaps?
I’m strict with myself when editing, don’t mix it with wine
Love the quote. Soup = Sustenance. RIP, Pietro.
Is it really “freezing” there? I didn’t realize that you got much snow or ice.
We don’t get snow (only experienced it a handful of times) except in some areas; like the Drakensberg. But we do freeze up; our waterpipes, ponds etc. Car windscreens crack and stuff like that.
Sustenance, Pietro.
I have to admit I’m a bit on the boring side with soup even though I love it. My favorites are tomato soup (unfortunately the Knorr packet), butternut soup (from Woolies) and traditional home cooked vegetable soup – something I learnt to do only about four years ago. I’m pretty impressed with my progress though. That soup looks lovely. What kind is it? Oh, and don’t forget the bread – SOUTH AFRICAN bread that is
It was butternut, sweet potato and harissa soup, very hearty
Soup is always good. Yours looks delicious. Blessings, Cindy…
Thanks Carol xxx
Life feels incomplete without homemade soup in the house. True comfort food.
Sad, sad, sad to lose one of the good guys!
Very sad, Amy
sad day..what a talented, handsome man, and so young.. thank you for link and post ~
I’d like to say ‘my pleasure’ but it seems way inappropriate?
Sorry but all I can focus on is how I am going to freeze when I get home. I don’t like the cold weather at the best of times and not having experienced cold weather for 2 years is going to be a major shock to my system.
Mandy
Sad news about Pietro Ferrero.
Maybe you will get your work done before the Easter break with the help of an extra glass of wine or two. Just a thought.
Seems I will get it all done, Mandy, despite the fact my fingers are so cold and keep jumping all over my keyboard.
*Wishes she could package warm weather and send it through the mail*
Me too, roll on September
Ditto with work being flung my way too Cindy, Thursday & my workload may have a nasty collision well into Easter if I don’t get a crackle on.
Still, we must not complain, eh? Good luck.
‘Pinkelpause’ – a new term for me: love it. It can replace, ‘spend a penny’, ‘pit stop’ and ‘a wizz’
Or even ‘just stopping at the shop for some cigs’
Everything is such a mixed bag of news these day!
I hadn’t read about the younger Ferrero’s death. Thanks for posting it.
I absolutely love soup — could live on it quite happily, I think. One of my favorites is Hot and Sour soup, but hands down homemade chicken or turkey is the best (with homemade egg noodles, of course!)