Skip to main content

Spotless Sunshine of the Eternal Mind

We both felt weary when the alarm sounded at 7am, but thought that a quick walk would bring us round and it did just that. 




The sun was shining and it felt good to have some warmth on our faces after all of the biting cold we've endured since our return from France.


The hedgerows are waking up from their winter slumber and the first crisp nettles are now evident. For those of you unfamiliar with the stinging nettle, it is a miraculous plant. Imported into Britain by the Romans (what did they ever do for us?), as a medicinal crop, this prolific weed is not only nutritious, but it's sting has been proven to be beneficial to those suffering from the debilitating effects of arthritis.Now is the time we gather nettles and add them to our home brewed beer. We have been brewing ale for many years and love to experiment with different edible hedgerow plants. Nettles add a wonderful earthy flavour to beer and are full of minerals such as magnesium and potassium. For a truly rustic old fashioned ale, we have added Yarrow (too bitter for me, but this was one of Kay's favourites), and also Cleavers - also known as "Sticky Willy" due to it's clingy properties. It's a most satisfying experience brewing beer and of course there is the drinking!


 We ate some Pennywort on the way back to our house. It's very refreshing and crunchy and makes a nice addition to any salad. Refreshed from our walk and free salad, we packed the car and headed out of sunny Cornwall into rain and more rain. 

Driving in the UK is not as pleasurable as driving in France. The roads are so congested now even on Sundays, and we had to contend with holidaymakers returning home from the half term break. Our destination is 300 miles north and it can take anything up to 10 hours depending upon traffic jams, roadworks and poor weather.  


Today took about 7 hours as we battled torrential rain and strong crosswinds interspersed with blue skies and rainbows.




 As usual, we experience a measured drop in temperature as we travel north. It was 10 degrees Celsius as we left home, but around 4 degrees as we arrived in Stoke. 

That bitter cold northern wind , how I despise it. I grew up in a home there with only a coal fire to warm the whole property. In the winter months, I grew used to ice forming on the inside of my bedroom window. Hurrah for Cornwall!!! Still. there is one thing sure to drive out the cold and that's a British restaurant curry. Phew! 


We had a vegetarian set meal for two and jolly good it was. Poppadoms, Chutneys, Onion Bhajis , two Curries, Rice and two side dishes. Oh, I nearly forgot the Kulfi - Indian ice cream. Pistachio flavour. 
Wash it all down with a pint of Cobra beer and you have a meal fit to drive out any cold weather experience. 


On the walk back to our hotel I found a pair of cinema 3D glasses and naturally wore them. I look like a demented Roy Orbison.

 What better way to end an evening...

Simon

Comments

just Gai said…
What a contrast between sunny Cornwall and rainy Stoke. I know where I'd rather be!
Anonymous said…
Roy - thanks for the laugh.

Popular posts from this blog

Diet And Drugs

Some of you know about my fight with Graves Disease, an auto immune system disorder, which causes an overactive thyroid. Since I was diagnosed 7 years ago, I have made it my business to know everything I possibly could about the condition & this has probably saved my life. I have blood tests on a regular basis & in November last year, I was told that my T4 levels are normal & again in January the same.  My thyroid stimulating hormone was finally starting to work too, after 7 years of lying dormant, so I suggested I came off the anti thyroid drug & my GP's response was to continue for a while longer. A month ago, I rang my GP & suggested again that I come off the drug or at least halve it, as I was feeling so well  & was concerned about the drug pushing me into being under active. Again, she said to be patient & they would send for me when it's time for a blood test. I don't normally do as I'm told, but decided to stick with it a b

Our Neighbours

The ladies next door have been giving birth in the field. Their babies are like any other babies - they sleep, they feed, they follow their mums everywhere, they run around, then fall asleep again.  These little beauties are completely unaware of their fate... But we know... And this is one thing which makes living here difficult. How can people eat other beings without feeling terrible?     It just doesn't make sense. Both the posters are from the  Cornwall Vegans  website. If you are in Cornwall or will be on Saturday 22nd April - do support this event! Perhaps you have been considering veganism - this  Vegan Starter Kit  will help you to get started and if you have any questions, need help or ideas for recipes - just ask, we are always happy to talk to folks who want to change their diet for the better. And in case you haven't seen this on iplayer - Here is  Simon Amstell's Carnage . Please, please think seriousl

Nettles

Our garden yesterday. Tall Nettles TALL nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettles now. This corner of the farmyard I like most: As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the dust on the nettles, never lost Except to prove the sweetness of a shower. ~ Edward Thomas ~ Every time we venture out to pick nettles, Sime always goes on about this poem! Anyway, thought I'd share with you the article I've written for next month's Parish Magazine... Our hedgerows are coming alive with food aplenty, but hardly anyone really notices the nettles that surround us, they grow quietly while using their juices to produce a medicine that can bring health. Anaemia, arthritis, rickets, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, colds, catarrh and lymphatic problems can all benefit from this wonderful wild and free super food. Nettles are rich in ca