This new column is going to be a 'chat' between you and me; I know at first it will be a one sided 'chat', but I hope after a while we will have an awful lot to talk about!

I will show you here, that it is not at all difficult to cook and to cook well. You will see how to do it without fuss or bother. Cooking should be fun! Never a drudge; it should not be difficult or complicated. Leave that to the French.

But, if you really and truly hate to cook, even after reading a few of my columns, take your friends to a good restaurant and be done with it!

With a gin and tonic in one hand, a spoon or knife in the other, and directions from me stuck onto the fridge, or anywhere you can see them easily while sipping, you will not only feed your friends (and not so good friends) well, but you will enjoy doing it!

Together, we will go into what should be in the freezer, like: did you know that the freezer works much better if it has a large bottle of vodka in it? I kid you not! Can you serve vodka any other way? Well, there you are!...

What you can do ahead of time, which is absolutely everything!..Who wants to cook on the day you expect to give a dinner party?... You must be rested and charming... and not spaced out!

We will go into all sorts of things which may interest you, and if it does not, I hope you will say so! I hope ''you all'' will ask an awful lot of questions, which I shall slave over and find answers to!If you find fault with me, I hope you say so as well, but may the Good Lord help you! This here is MY column.

But, seriously; I hope we will have a lot of fun cooking for the family, for friends, and for the freezer!

We will go into holidays; find a special recipe for each, try to find the history, the basics and share how to make it well and quickly. I do not believe in being a kitchen bug; unless you and I get stuck making 'gefilte-fish' for Succott, which does take all day.

BUT: at the end of the day, you will have between 50 and 60 gefilte-fish-balls! Believe me, it's the best fish in the world and you will live on the complements for at least 6 months!

But, if that frightens you, buy it from someone who makes it well, decorate it the best way you know how, buy a very good horseradish sauce to go with it, do not say anything, serve it with style, and who will know the difference or dare to call you a liar if you tell them that you slaved over it all day? I promise not to tell.

SO; welcome to my column; lets have fun together!