Foundations: Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden is on a quest to achieve a more self-sufficient, sustainable and enriched lifestyle for his family.
Now that bodes ill. There’s nothing at all objectionable in the synopsis; in fact, it seems laudable. What will I do if Mr Hayden is not obnoxious? How will I cope if I have to change my opinion of him?
The show opens with a greeting from the man himself, who reassures us that this quest is only going to take six weeks. There will be guests, including the local producers who inspire him, and – if the previews are anything to go by – Andrew Symonds. Oh dear. I hope he’s in a later episode, as I didn’t sign up for Haydos and Roy.
After the credits, a montage of Haydos’ performances backed by the dulcet tones of Nine’s commentary team reminds us why we should give a rats about this particular personal journey. After explaining that part of the reason for this endeavour is an attempt to “relive [his] own childhood [and] hone in on the simple things in life”, Haydos is off to the chicken coop to collect eggs, commentating the process as though the hens are consciously involved in a sporting endeavour. I guess he’s got to have a selling point and the cricketing is the selling point, but if it continues it will be too much for this viewer to bear.
This is the first episode, which might account for the overdose in introduction: wife, kids, landscape designer, mum, dad and brother. This is where I discover that I can blame Kellie Hayden for the series of cookbooks.
Where’s the food? Find out, after the jump.
The first food of the show comes with breakfast. There’s a cursory reference to a pancakes recipe during a scene at the stove. Haydos then tells us he doesn’t eat breakfast, but is pretty much hungry all day, and reels off a recipe for… something. Not sure what. It seems pretty stream-of-consciousness, which is a bit odd and not particularly easy to follow. Okay, so recipes for pancakes and whatever egg thing he cooked in his skillion (sic) are part of most people’s standard repertoire (pancakes) or intuitive (egg thing), but I’m conditioned to expect more conventional demonstrations and lists of ingredients in these shows. Perhaps that’s something I need to let go.
We head back to the family farm in Kingaroy where dad and brother reminisce about Matt to a background of family photos and old home videos. We join Matt in the kitchen with his mum for the next recipe, which is a chocolate macadamia pudding, and I realise I’m being lulled into the rhythm of this show. It’s very amiable and if he’s not a laidback country boy and loving family man, then he’s an excellent actor.
Also in this episode:
- the landscape designer presents the scheme for the permaculture garden, which gets the seal of approval from Matthew, Kellie and their daughter
- Matthew visits an established garden near Noosa and makes pizze with the produce grown there
- construction begins on the garden at home
- curries are made for the landscaping crew
Lifestyle has all the recipes up on their website, which is just as well – the run-throughs on the show are not step-by-step, but that seems to be in keeping with it as a “lifestyle” rather than a straight food show. The macadamia pud is something I would have a go at for a Sunday dinner, and his version of the dahl looks straightforward and tasty. Having the landscape designer help out with the curries provided a natural way of explaining some of the techniques and she and Haydos had a comfortable chemistry together.
Will I watch this again? Actually, I might (and this surprises me). It’s not really the kind of thing I thought I’d like. I don’t have acreage – hell, I don’t even have a backyard – and my horror at the concept of a TV show hosted by Matthew Hayden was real and visceral. I won’t be tuning in at 6.30 on Sundays, but will check in on it in the recordings when I get a chance. Mainly because I want to see how the garden shapes up, although I am also curious as to whether the magic of the show can overcome my antipathy towards Andrew Symonds as easily as it did my anti-Haydenism.
Other observations
- Matthew Hayden calls the chooks “girls”, and this is – unfortunately – enthusiastically picked up by the landscape designer.
- he has an “Aunny” Sheila and Uncle Cec. Bless! He really is the ultimate ‘strayan.
- he has a full-on MAN BBQ – outdoor kitchen.
- there was some weird editing, in addition to the rather rambling opening. As the permaculturist was describing the three ethics of permaculture (care for earth, people, community), Haydos interrupted with “I’ve never even heard of half of these!”, which seemed a bit dense. “I’ll give you some cuttings,” she replied.
- it’s a cliche fest, although that’s to be expected I guess. We even get “the circle of life” less than ten minutes in. The landscape designer gives us “all the ducks in line” and “going to hell in a handbasket” in one sentence.
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So now what do I do … wonder if it is out there in the interwebs?? gah ! no! I shall not! Update me if it becomes unmissable
congratulations, what an enjoyeable show. Loved the whole
thing from start to finish. When will the next episodes be on.We liked meeting your family and seeing the transformation of your garden. I will be trying those recipes too. thanks again .