Friday 17 May 2013

The Sage lights a fire

Well, we've been beaten.  But at least we're warm tonight.  The may is out, but I'm adding clouts, not casting them.

The Sage was in London today.  I had a long discussion with the Head this morning.  Several matters to consider.  I've spent most of the rest of the day doing not much as a consequence, letting things settle.  And this is quite a good sign, that I was able to relax and let my thoughts flow without conscious intervention.  Not that I did so at once, it took a spell of sitting by the Aga munching Twiglets - I should add that I ate pineapple later, to perfect the meal - to get things straight - I'm sorry to be cryptic, but there are several irons going into fires and some may be quietly removed, but others probably won't be.  All good in the long run, but I've unanswered questions at present.

Still, better than not having enough to do, innit?  Seriously, I'd hate to do nothing but think of the housework, the next supper party or dabbling in watercolours, and I used to know a number of women bored out of their skulls doing just that, in the days when many of them didn't go out to work and use their brains - fine for me in twenty years' time, but not yet.  Not that you have to go *out* to work, but you have to be challenged and feel a sense of achievement.

Mentioning twenty years' time is a moment of rare optimism, I note.  I don't care to look forward very far, usually.

Anyway, after my Twiglet/pineapple lunch, I took Ben out for a good run and enjoyed the quiet.  Just birdsong, for the most part.  I said to the Sage on Monday, when we were on our way back from Lowestoft, how I love this time of year, when the leaves are still young and fresh and you really notice the different shades of green.  And there's birdsong all day long, and parent birds taking beakfuls of grubs back to the nest.  It's a joyous time, apart from it being bloody cold this year.

Trout and asparagus for supper.  It'll be a short asparagus season this year, the growers stop cutting on the longest day, because they need to give time for the crowns to build up strength.  So, if it's expensive, bear in mind that they only have a few weeks to make money when the plants are in the ground all year, and that it's cut by hand, painstakingly.  If we aren't willing to pay, they'll grub it up and grow sugarbeet instead.  If you'd buy a magazine or a cup of coffee, invest the money in asparagus for the next five weeks.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

We noticed the many shades of green yesterday going through the chase near Brandon. I do miss birdsong, being deaf, but most years we go out to listen to the nightingales in mid May (two places near here) but it's too cold really. And we haven't had any asparagus so far, but that I can remedy tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me.

kipper said...

Lots of asparagus available here, with extreme variations on prices depending upon the store. Roasted asparagus--yum!

nick said...

I didn't realise the asparagus season was so short. We had some delicious asparagus just recently. With poached eggs and salad.

Tomorrow we thought we'd ring the changes and have twiglets and pineapple....

Rog said...

I'm buying a magazine - it has more flavour than asparagus!
Controversial moi?

Unknown said...

If you grow your own asparagus the season can be extended quite a bit; but an asparagus bed needs a much bigger garden than we have now, and I don't want a bigger.............

Z said...

Mike, I miss bats, but I'd be extremely sorry not to hear birdsong and I sympathise. Yes, you can continue judicious cutting if you grow your own, but the official season is over on 21st June.

I imagine that asparagus would grow well in your area, Kippy, nice to think of a food we've sent across the Atlantic!

Poaching is the test of a perfectly fresh egg - can't think of a more delicious meal, Nick. And I trust you didn't eat the twiglets and pineapple together, because they don't go.

Provocative indeed, Rog.

Sarah said...

Yesterday someone remarked that it was warmer in Finland than England

Z said...

Blimey, so it is, Sarah. I've just looked it up, it's 10º here and 16º in Helsinki. I then looked up Nice for comparison - and it's only 14º right now!

Unknown said...

Our central hearing is on!

Unknown said...

Hello John. I like the sound of your central hearing. Perhaps that would help me to hear birdsong????

janerowena said...

I centrally heard a cuckoo this morning!

We have been lighting the fire for many nights now. We barely stopped. Later in the evening, but even so..

Roses said...

I love asparagus. Any excuse and I'm munching it!

Yes, I'm a bit peeved by the weather. My heating's been off a total of 2 weeks so far this year.

Good to hear you're getting your ducks in row (so to speak). No, I can't imagine you doing nothing either. Not gonna happen.

Hugs!