Today I watched as my beloved Aga was slowly and carefully
dismantled to be taken away – probably to warm the cockles of a new family’s
heart!!
Turned off ready to go, our three oven Aga - the tiles behind are from Fired Earth.
We have had Aunty Aga – named by my nephews – as they
misheard when I said "On the Aga" or "In the Aga" and she fondly became known as
Aunty Aga – she is definitely a she!! She knows so many secrets,
sssshhhhh………………
We have loved her and she has been perfect for our home,
which originates from 1650. We bought her 14 years ago and she has warmed our
hearts and home ever since, despite breaking down on 3 occasions – naughty girl
– once in the first year of having her – 2 days before Christmas – oh yessss –
and Aga told me they wouldn’t be able to get an engineer out till after the big
man in red had been! Can you imagine? All that planning for the first Aga
cooked Christmas dinner? This was swiftly sorted when Mr.L got on the phone and
a nice engineer was out next day, probably on triple pay or something…
I feel sad and will miss her warmth when I come in to the
kitchen on a blustery Autumn or snowy Winter’s day, clothes warming on her
ready to change in to. The dog lying with his back against her and I remember
when we had an ill chicken in a box at the side of her.
I’ll miss watching Mr.L moving food for friends and family
around the different ovens, in his element, often in a Chef’s hat. The best,
most moist cakes ever and always exclamations of how tasty the food is and how
succulent the meat!!
I remember when my Son started secondary school and had to
write a detailed piece on how to make a slice of toast in Home Economics – “First,
lift the left hand side boiling plate lid up” – haha!!
So, why are we saying farewell? When we got her she cost
around 28 pounds a month to run, now five times that – that isn't for the heating
– our Aga isn't linked to do the heating like some and to change this would
cost a fortune.
She has become an extravagance and I feel our money could be
better spent, particularly as it is just me & Mr.L at home now. We have a wood burner and central heating and obviously will be
using them more than ever, but I feel I can no longer justify paying out so
much money every month.
So, now I'm trying to find a range oven to fit the space. I still want a large oven as I love cooking and having friends and family over, but at least I will have the choice of what I'm using when. Below are the last things I baked over the weekend - one of three Christmas cakes and a cherry and coconut traybake, mmmmmm - I can't have any - juice detox!!!
