Watch The Birdie

Plain and simple Mr GBT likes ducks- indeed one could go so far as to say he is very keen on ducks. Twenty five years ago the first ever gift I bought him was a mug with ducks on and amazingly it is one of the few originals from the early days which has survived. Whilst I was dancing in Arundel on Sunday, he took himself off to the Wetlands Trust. Armed with his camera he took many birdie snaps but in the main yes, they were of ducks! I enjoyed seeing them and hope you do too.

Arilx

Apple Day

Today is Apple Day. It was established in 1990 by Common Ground to celebrate our national fruit and has quickly caught the public imagination. More info here http://commonground.org.uk/projects/orchards/apple-day/ I think it's fantastic how the effect has rippled out to create not only a new annual custom but also lots of community orchards. We danced once again at the organised event at the Arundel orchard but there are no photos as it was very much the same pattern as last year. I did however, ensure that I partook of some freshly pressed juice, a wee tot of mulled cider and a slab of Dorset Apple Cake.

Having become an owner of my very own little tree this last year I am even more keen to try new varieties. As a child one called D'Arcy Spice grew in my Nana's garden. It was discovered in the 1800s in Colchester which was literally a stone's throw from where she still lived. I remember it having a very tough skin and a remarkable taste which I now know to be akin to nutmeg and hence why it's called the spice apple.

Speaking of apple varieties these few lines penned by an unknown poet mention more.

Picking the Apples

Apples to pick! Apples to pick!

Come with a basket and come with a stick.

Rustle the leaves and shake them down, 

And let every boy take care of his crown.

There you go, Tommy! Up with you,Jim!

Crawl to the end of the crooked limb.

Carefully pick the fairest and best,

Now for a shake, and down come the rest!

Thump! Thump! down they come raining!

Shake away! Shake, till not one is remaining.

Hopping off here, and popping off there,

Apples and apples are everywhere.

Golden Russets, with sunburnt cheek, 

Fat, ruddy Baldwins, jolly and sleek,

Pippins, not much when they meet your eyes,

But wait till you see them in tarts and pies.

Where are the Pumpkin Sweet? Oh, here!

Where are the Northern Spies? Oh there!

And there are the Nodheads, and here are the Snows,

And yonder the Porter, best apple that grows.

Beautiful Bellefleurs, yellow as gold,

Think not we're leaving you out in the cold,

And dear fat Greenings, so prime to bake,

I'll eat one of you now, for true love's sake!

Oh, bright is the Autumn sun o'erhead,

And bright are the pile of gold and red!

And rosy and bright as the apples themselves

Are Jim, Tom and Harry, as merry as elves.

Anon

Arilx

Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

Well certainly not me. Anyone who can buy a former windmill as a home spontaneously certainly gets my vote!

This is the Round House in Lewes which Virginia and Leonard bought in 1919. The plaque on the front rather marvellously reads "We bought a house in Lewes, on the spur of the moment. It's the butt end of an old windmill, so that all the rooms are either completely round or semi circular." They bought the more famous Monks House in Rodmell shortly after which turned out to be their preferred residence. Thus the decision was taken to sell this one on.

The property remains in private hands.

Arilx

Job Titles.

Monday and it's the start of the working week for many. Enjoying the social history of the everyday folks, it interests me how quickly the knowledge of some jobs are lost. Sometimes as recently as the Census the entries have us scratching our heads. Family research has shown me that most of my lot were agricultural labourers or coach trimmers so no query there but this little gem might amuse you http://www.worldthroughthelens.com/family-history/old-occupations.php

Arilx

A Day of Domestic Trivia and Frugal Doings

If the truth of the matter be known I'm a bit of a home bird really. Much as I enjoy heading out for adventures, I am equally happy to have time at home to potter and please myself. Having enjoyed the company of two dear chums last night and maybe having indulged in the odd sweet sherry or three with them I had no specific plans for today. I toyed with the idea of doing the Park Run but I'm dancing tomorrow and besides I fancied a lie in. Most unusually for me I did not emerge from my pit until 7.30. Humphrey was not impressed!

Looking back over the day it's certainly not been wasted. The last of the ripe raspberries have been picked and are now frozen and the lurking veg has been rounded up and evicted from where it had taken up squatters rights in the fridge. One big batch of soup later has fed us for lunch today and will do so again tomorrow whilst the compost heap has been denied our leftovers. The slow cooker has been put to work with a lentil curry bubbling away in it and a list of foods that need to be finished up has been drawn up as I've started cleaning a few of the kitchen cupboards. The identified culprits will go towards forming the basis of the menu plan for next week.

A spot of housesparkling to keep the homestead looking reasonable for the next few days has been done and I've put the new to me airer which I picked up from the charity shop last week for £2.50 to use. We don't have a tumble drier [partly down to space and also the cost] nor is the heating set to high. As we're now past the time of year where it's not worth me line drying anything I've decided to set up the additional airer in the garage. I figured that there is still air flow out there and although the washing will take longer to dry than in the house, it stops the place looking like a Chinese laundry! Today is the first time for trying trialling my new cunning plan! Finally, the Christmas pudding vodka is underway - this is a new one for me to try but it sounded like fun. It is for us to enjoy over the festive period not intended to be given away as gifts. This is the link I've used http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/christmas_pudding_vodka_45343

To be honest I've probably been just as productive today as when I have a long list and plan my activities like a military operation which is my more normal approach. It's been good to step off the hamster wheel for just a few hours.

I saw this fellow in his marvellous hat last weekend- it simply tickled me to see such a marvellous blast of colour on what was frankly a dreich kind of day.

Arilx

Unfathomable.

Sometimes I see something and the mind boggles. There is no context to give a clue to its meaning and this sign certainly had me stumped. I wondered if maybe it was a band but knew I was clutching at straws. Good old Google- I have now learnt that Toads is an abbreviation of "Toads in the Hole" which has nothing to do with sausages in batter but is a pub game played exclusively in East Sussex. It involves four brass coins [known as toads] being thrown from a set distance onto a table with a hole in the middle and various scores being achieved depending upon where the toads land.

So Now You Know!

Arilx

Gingerbread.

Certain places are famous for the foods they produce- think Melton Mowbray as a classic example. Other places, although famous at a point in history, may have fallen by the wayside. Until recently I think it would be fair to say that my hometown of Horsham fitted into this latter category. I am delighted to say though that that is no longer the case.

We're talking the revival of the fortunes of gingerbread here. It was at the height of its production during the Regency period and at the time three varieties were available- the Parliament which was fat free with a very high treacle content, the Parliament Cutter which had crinkled edges and sold four for a penny and the Toy which was a hard and heavy type and would last for ages.

Below are a couple of the original presses- sometimes gold leaf was added to the stamp to give it that extra sparkle and luxury.

There were many makers in the town, each with their own secret recipes, including the forefathers of our local poet Shelley, but it died out with the death of the last maker, Mr Lovekin, in 1917. Thankfully for us the curator of our museum discovered a 200 year old recipe book at auction with the Shelley recipe in. For a year Lesley Ward, a local business woman [and my old boss from my Saturday job when I was 15!] who has a great interest in food set about resurrecting the gingerbread. She and her team spent that time experimenting until she was happy with the results. That was 2012. Since then it has gained a popular following and is now stocked in many outlets throughout the South East.The full story is here http://www.horshamgingerbread.co.uk/index.htm Such has been the success that Lesley is now busy adding other lines to the range.

Arilx