Preparation and Execution

​This story starts about two weeks before 2022 Grand Final Day as Marg & I returned from a wonderful trip to the Top End and Red Centre.  Perhaps inspired by the military exercises, Operation Kakadu and Pitch Black 2022, that were running during our stay, this is a story of envisioning, planning, preparation and execution.
It starts with the Envisioning Phase.  Half our study houses a library of cooking books and I am sure most came out along with many pages torn out of magazines and printed recipes sent from very dear friends (looking at you Jilly).  Soon Marg was sitting in the middle of the room surrounded by piles of recipes assembled in some logical order.  To me this looked like a practical demonstration of Chaos Theory.

​Next the Planning Phase commenced.  The inevitable lists appeared.  List of recipes and ingredients that ultimately resulted in shopping lists.  These constantly changed, got replaced and started getting lost at various points as the planning continued.  I am sure that I saw a “List of Lists” appear at one point.  Eventually the added dimensions of time and fridge storage were added to the planning, resulting in a multi-dimensional puzzle worthy of any Mensa Club.
Now to Execution Phase.  But like any military operation identification and elimination of any risks is essential before the main event.  So trials were planned.  Precise inputs, defined implementation procedures and intended outcomes were identified for some of the riskier components.  Precise inputs included impact of sunset for outdoor cooking so trials were conducted precisely one week (to the minute) prior to this event. Intended outcomes was fun for Mel and I as we got to sample new sausage rolls, pork crackling and Magnum icecreams without chocolate (yes they are still to come!)

​Trials complete and adjustments to lists made it was now time for the final Execution Phase. The kitchen turned into a battle zone for days.  Fridges were filled and emptied to be replenished with partially complete recipe components. Lists were being ticked off, rewritten for clarity and consolidated into an ever-changing landscape.  Negotiations continued with the Women’s Auxiliary as everyone contributed with their best offers as Major General Marg held it all together as a focused battle plan.

​Now to the elephant in the room …. Me.  My feeble attempts at assistance were obviously not working.  How could I assist with transport to/from fridges if I could not tell the difference between pork and chicken mince?  How could I wash preparation dishes when chopping boards and cooking utensil surrounded the washing space? Even a lame attempt to line an oven tray with baking paper ended up with 20M of said paper rolled out across the kitchen floor … still don’t know how that happened.

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​But like any well-planned military operation minor variations are easily accounted for and the result is something to be proud of … as I am of you Marg.  Thank you and the Women’s Auxiliary so much for your astounding efforts.