We’ve been watching a cooking program called Two Greedy Italians: Still Hungry on SBS, where “two fun-loving, food devotees Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo return to Italy together to remember their own pasts and discover how the culinary capital of the world is changing the way it cooks and eats. The two kings of Italian cuisine take a sentimental journey of discovery through the southern countryside of Calabria as they investigate how children’s food in the country has changed since they were boys. Both are concerned that declining birth rates are dramatically changing life for the next generation of greedy Italians.”

We never watch the commercial cooking shows like Masterchef as simply find them too contrived, but have become enchanted with this program. In a funny sort of way, we have likened ourselves to these two characters, me being dubbed the more eccentric one Gennaro! I vaguely recall Jamie Oliver spent a lot of time with Antonio Carluccio his cooking having been influenced greatly by him. They spend a lot of time in their little Fiat driving around Italy, stopping on the side of the road tasting the fruits of produce along the way. They had us in stitches of laughter last week as Gennaro had climbed onto a wall, standing extremely precariously, pulling the branches of a fig tree, and then something from another tree (can’t remember what it was), the latter sending ants up his trouser legs! He then jumped off the wall and pulled them down jumping around removing them, while Antonio sat in the car shaking his head!! We have agreed, this is probably the type of thing I would do if we were on the road wandering around the countryside.

On a website that is mostly about living with the diagnosis and symptoms of dementia, you might wonder why I’ve written about these Italians chefs and this terrific program. Some days, I simply need to think, write and talk about other things, and people like my dear husband need a break from reading about what is happening in my and therefore our world, behind the scenes, often just inside my head or heart. Food, love, laughter, fun, family and friends are the most significant parts of our lives and all go together to create a perfect blend of happiness.