We’ve been bewitched with a spate of technology failures.  First it was the breadmaker and then it’s been the computer, printer, wall lights, food processor and finally the lawn mowers.  I don’t know if we’re jinxed or perhaps I’m just out of touch.  Forgive me for thinking that a piece of equipment should last at least 5 years even if it has to be serviced regularly or a few parts replaced. It seems that since we’ve been living in a material world you can’t now maintain something it has to be replaced if the slightest bit of it fails.

With no spare parts available for my breadmaker – I think the term used was discontinued – I’ve been resisting the temptation to head out and buy a new machine.  It’s been the cause of many a discussion at Domestic Executive HQ.  MT bemoaning the fact I don’t bake bread any more and me bemoaning the fact that I refuse to go out and spend several hundred dollars when I was sure there was a way we could get things working again.

I am pleased to announce that I was right.  And I can tell you that’s a rare occurrence n our house.

For this morning’s breakfast I enjoyed a tasty home baked cinammon and raisin toast.  Admittedly it probably wasn’t the best in the world but it was a good alternative to the shop bought and I know I can do better.  That is after a bit more practice with my repaired breadmaker.

There is frankly nothing better than home made bread. Come to think of it home made or at least made by an artisan is definitely the best way for food production.  Now some may say that using a breadmaker is a cop out and a dedicated domestic operative would be making and baking bread by hand.  I rest my case.  My level of dedication to all things culinary has to be balanced against the rest of life and since I seem to manage fewer and fewer waking hours in the day, breadmaking by hand is something I can look to perfecting when I retire.

Although I will try my hand over the summer break to try and perfect a special loaf for weekends.  For the moment every day bread will need to be baked in the breadmaker which to be honest I have found over the years has produced some mighty fine loaves.

I remember when I first got a breadmaker there was a certain person who scoffed at the idea until they came to stay and enjoy the fruits of my machines labour.  Lo and behold over the years he has become a master baker with his own breadmaker.  Not content with making the bread to a high standard he has invested in a bread slicing machine (a bargain from Lidl probably) and now serves his bread is perfectly sliced form.  I can vouch for the taste of the bread and the superior sandwich making quality of the cut.

It was this same person who shared in my fretting about the state of breadmaking spare parts having had a machine or two fail on him.  It seems that it indeed true that they don’t make things like they used to.  It seems like father, like daughter.

Thanks to the dedication of my father I have now been able to repair my breadmaker.  He was able to get some circlips to hold the spindle in place and equipped with the new clips and a blueprint drawing for the repair I have now completed the repair.

It’s true that the seals are not as tight as they should be but I reckon there are a few more loaves in my breadmaker yet.  I won’t be able to use it on the timer for fear of all the water leaking out but it has passed its first outing to produce a tasty loaf for this weekend.  And long may it continue.

And if not, I’ve got my eye on one of these.  In fact, I’ve be salivating over lots of things at Milly’s.  It’s just as well they don’t have a store in Wellington as there is the possibility I would have a mortgage size account with them by now. I digress.

A few things that have struck me about this whole experience:

1. I am starting to sound like someone twice my age moaning about how things are not the same as they used to be
2. Breadmakers are a great way to bring harmony to your marriage
3. Bread from a breadmaker is second only to an artisan breadmaker who does nothing but bake bread every day
4. It’s good to have a fellow breadmaker lover to share in your pain
5. Everyone needs a someone who is a mister fix it who will make it their project to mend a breadmaker that is 12,000 miles away.

So if you don’t have a breadmaker get one today – buy one from Milly’s and tell them that I sent you.  They won’t know who you are talking about but might feel charitable enough to send me one of these to replace my broken food processor.  I think my father and I know our limitations when it comes to mending small appliances.  Thanks anyway Dad, you’re  star!