Monthly Archives: September 2011
Called to the bar
Mid morning in the cafe in Moutiers les Mauxfaits and things are not hotting up. A cold beer is ready to help with any important decision making. The word “Mauxfaits” ( bad or evil deeds) suggests that history has not been … Continue reading
These are the grapes without wrath….
“All work and no play make Jacques a dull boy” fails miserably as an epithet in this little corner of France. For the greater part of my life I associated “work” with certain unpleasant hours of the day, preferably as … Continue reading
Two into one won’t go……
Two into one will go and the supposition that they won’t flies in the face of the keystone of our nuclear life – happiness (or is that spelt “wealth”). One over one is a fraction of individuality, freedom, independence and occasionally … Continue reading
Cut off point
I just don’t care what you had for dinner last night, and my guess is that you feel the same about me. I’m not sure why I started writing these dispatches, but the concept of exchanging recipes was never foremost … Continue reading
The greengage summer……..
This is the time of year when I overbuy on fruit, unlike the summer months when it can putrefy in 24 hours or less. Fruit bowls in the house are full of plums, pears and apples which make for wonderful … Continue reading
Rabbit stew comes with a free Davy Crockett hat..
This charming little group is part of the extensive living larder belonging to one of my neighbours. In our small hamlet we only have four neighbours, and each of them has a similar stock of of ready to eat dishes. … Continue reading
An apple a day …..could be very monotonous, and prevent you from seeing the doctor.
There is something very satisfying about the shape of an apple, or indeed an egg. Our minds do not have to struggle with complexity of form and structure as a smooth ovoid does not appear to be particularly challenging to … Continue reading
The courting and seduction of the disingenuous plum
Summer seduces with warmth and blue skies, or the anticipation of both, whereas Autumn seduces with colour. I’m not alluding to the glorious annual show of colour produced by the forest, but to the luscious displays of damsons, figs, blackberries … Continue reading
Apart from that Mrs Lincoln, what did you think of the play?
Unaccustomed as I am to physical toil, I can now say with some authority that if you are going to mix cement, mix it close to an idyllic sea shore where the aches and pains of the working day can … Continue reading
A good supper after a day mixing cement….
Today finds me preparing for an outing to the seaside. There will be a bucket and spade, but they will be sitting next to a hungry cement mixer that is not on holiday, which I am expected to feed with … Continue reading