Wednesday 10th September 2014

I had thought to have no opinions today but the second pen goes to paper… There’s trouble in the marmalade cupboard. I had it out yesterday morning. Two jars had bad mould on the top but we’re used to that. You skim it off and continue. But the smell persists in the cupboard and in the particular jars, although the marm tastes all right.

Filthy little spores. How to gas them out and not poison the preserve? Do I face being marmalade-less until January?

On Monday I gave a last min din for Bruce McBain’s birthday. The Multis, Angus Willis and Fergus Strachan. Furious arguments broke out every three minutes: taxation, the massacre of small birds in southern Europe, and finally the referendum. It’s very hard for Bruce because he faces re-patriation but all his grandfathers fought in the World Wars for Great Britain and were proud to do so. The menu worked quite well, but the Blond Multi said that if the 1st course is loaded in as bites with drinks – which it was because Angus Willis was in transit from Hastings where he is King and arrived late – it feels more like canapés. Then there were calls for bread with the guinea fowl. If only I’d known I could have shifted tons of potatoes I’ve got in stock from my organic box. But I thought it was no carbs after 8. Finally the Blond Multi said, ‘Is there sweeters?’ So I burrowed in my wine cupboard and found various presents from over the years: grappa, an airline size bottle of port, some buckwheat vodka etc.

Don’t tell anyone, but I don’t like sweeters. Apart from the expense, it’s headachy.

Here’s my top garden at present, giving so much pleasure in these wistful late summer days.

My Top Terrace Garden

My Top Terrace Garden: It’s Wandy and Frondy

My Top Terrace Garden