pumpkinstrokemarrow

The blogger people must do something clever with the recently published pictures - in the sense of cutting them down to bit size. Loading does not seem to be delayed at all. I continue to be impressed with the technology.

A second national design institute is falling. The new first class stamps - of which supply was needed to deal with those whose cards caught us out - appear to have acquired an ugly numeral one in the top left hand corner. A shame given that our regular stamps used to be quite decent looking. The first institution was the Landranger maps which started out really good and are now becoming progressively more gaudy. Perhaps they will start showing RSPB reserves in some lurid colour to complement that they use to show National Trust places. Perhaps someone will have a go at our banknotes.

Cambridge connection visit yesterday. Largeish meal in consequence, unusually running to four courses. Started off with exotica including strange fish lumps - mostly involving legs - in olive oil, snail pate - which appered to consist and taste mainly of pig - and some strange triangular fish lumps from Spain via a tin. Fish lumps cunningly wrapped in a tomato paste sheet about 1mm thick. How on earth did they do it? Followed by roast surloin, this being all the Cheam butcher could manage in the continuing chaotic run up to the New Year. Went down OK but not as good to my mind as other species of rib. Moist, very slightly pink with a slightly grainy texture. More like steak than roast. But the gear near the bone of which there was plenty very good. Another time I shall attempt to cook one of these hotter and faster so that we get brown outside and pinker inside - something we don't usually manage very well except with very large joints. Accompanied by mashed potatoes enlivened with bean pudding (vide supra), carrots, parsnips, brussel sprouts and cabbage. Followed by, exceptionally, three puddings one of which was christened something to do with Mars due to the interesting minced hazel nut patterns on the meringue. And one of which involved condensed milk cooked in such a way as to turn it brown (deliverately). The whole accompanied by rather posher wine than we are used to. And a giant grapefruit (aka pomona) to finish off with. Oddly, for such a large fruit, very small seeds. We will attempt to germinate - other citrus seeds germinate readily enough so perhaps these will.

Second post Christmas visit to Cheam today, getting somewhat wet on the way back. Butcher and baker now both open. Earl Grey tea famine averted by the Cheam High Street Budgen's which was surprisingly well stocked - complete with friendly check out lady who assured anybody who wanted to know that the quality of gossip far surpassed anything to be had in the Sainsbury down the road.

Talking of whom, I have not yet managed to attack their web site and complain about their mixed organic nuts - which seemed very dry and are strongly suspected of being more than a year old. But managed to get some rather more respectable walnuts from Epsom market - which appear to have arrived from California via the Netherlands. Roll on getting a decent crop from my various hazel nut trees, fresh hazels being a much more interesting proposition than the oven dried things one gets otherwise. Got a couple of handfulls this year, deer permitting, might get rather more next year.

Maybe we get to the allotment later if the rain stops. But bonfire delayed again.