I like haggis. And parsnips. The other things, not so much. Thanks for the heads up about the programme though, Obs. I don't go in for food programmes on the whole (and especially not masterchef) but I quite like Rick Stein as a travelogue presenterĀ
I'm watching the Simon Reeve one about the Americas at the moment, as well.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
āIt's still magic even if you know how it's done.āĀ
Got that one recorded @raisingirl and will catch up later as it's on at an awkward time for me.
Rick Stein is good at getting about to less obvious places and bringing in history and literature so is interesting on many levels but I do wish he's clean up his table manners.Ā Ā For a foodie he's just a bit inept with a fork.
When we moved to France fifteen years ago you wouldn't have known it was Christmas until about two weeks before, it was bliss. I just went shopping in LeClerc SM and all the decorations are up, the shelves are full of childrens presents and loads of tat. I can't bear it! Now Black Friday has arrived here and the french are asking me what's that all about. I think I may go and hibernate for the winter.
It's not just the tat Floralies.Ā Last year I nearly choked myself laughing at a French pop musak rendition of a Christmas song.Ā Ā I haven't got my head round "French days" let alone Black ones.
I wonder what we'd come up with if we ditched all the current holidays and festivals and just had a total reset?
Xmas makes sense as an end of year/mid winter rest and relax period but we've made it as stressful as possible for some reason so that could use a rethink. Maybe we could make it a 2 week hide and seek festival so we can avoid family if needs be. Loser wins a large plate of sprouts.
I'd replace bank holidays with weather dependant 'Emergency Sundays' which could be called on a Friday or Monday depending when the weather is good. No holidays for bankers included until they've paid back all the money they've stolen.Ā
Springtime chocolate and cute animal festival may need some work but is sound in principal.
Autumn drunken pyrotechnics night could use a bit more meaning behind it and a bit less atmospheric pollution. Maybe we make it the annual festival of using bright lights and loud bangs to banish Brexit. By the 10th year of Brexit negotiations this will start to make an odd kind of sense and a tradition is sure to be born.
Americana appreciation evening, complete with pumpkins and dressing up like your favourite disney character will no doubt remain popular. I think it needs to become more American until it becomes a true parody rather than some bizarre homage.
We could replace Valentine's day with just being nice to your partner at other times of the year or just rebrand it as 'Buy your OH some cheap flowers, get her drunk and hope she puts out day'. Just for the sake of women's rights and equality we will have to officially recognise a male version of this event as well. Steak and BJ day remains unpopular but I'd settle for 'beer and no nagging day' personally.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Posts
Gardening in Central NorfolkĀ on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm watching the Simon Reeve one about the Americas at the moment, as well.
āIt's still magic even if you know how it's done.āĀ
Rick Stein is good at getting about to less obvious places and bringing in history and literature so is interesting on many levels but I do wish he's clean up his table manners.Ā Ā For a foodie he's just a bit inept with a fork.