There are several things you gloss over in your mind when planning a new kitchen. The main one being you are going to be without a functioning kitchen for however long it takes the builders to strip out and replace your old kitchen. In our case, because there was a significant structural piece to the renovation, this was potentially going to involve months rather than weeks of, in effect, camping in our own home.

I was prepared for this and relatively relaxed about it, as there were supposed to be just the two of us, with the boys both living elsewhere until at least the end of May/beginning of June, by which time the new kitchen would, if not finished, would at least have the cooker back in place and running water once again.  

I should point out at this stage that we have a utility room at the other end of the house, which has a sink and a second fridge (the booze fridge), but it’s quite small and lacking in surface space, however the microwave could sit there quite happily and we could wash up in there too. Two trestle tables were set up in the hall for crockery, cutlery, the toaster, a 1 ring gas burner (thank you Dave & Hels. This, it turned out, was a life saver) and the coffee machine (it’s official I can’t live without one, but that is my only princess tendency).

We were muddling along OK when the goal posts shifted with the arrival of Amy (Alex’s lovely girlfriend) and then Alex himself, ahead of schedule. I did warn them that we were camping, all be it in the house with hot & cold running water and a loo that flushes, but I think they thought I was exaggerating. That was until they arrived when Alex took one look at the kitchen set-up and said “Christ! You are camping!” I swear to God I mentioned that on more than one occasion. I think we would all agree, that cooking for 3 or 4 people in primitive circumstances, is definitely more testing than cooking for 2.

Thank goodness for the Big Green Egg, who knew there are many things you can cook on it other than just barbequed meat. Chili con carne, pizza, banana bread & chocolate brownies were all added to the Egg’s repertoire and frankly I don’t know what we’d have done without it. In addition one pot meals on the gas burner (a full English breakfast can be cooked in 1 frying pan, as long as you get the order of ingredients right) and any number of different types of packet rice/pulses in the microwave.

I think we did OK and can proudly say we did not resort to any ready meals and only the occasional fish & chip run, largely in inclement weather, when it seemed mean to send Catering into the garden to light the EGG.  However I can’t tell you how happy we all were when the cooker and dishwasher were reinstated.