October, and..

... I've been in bed for two days with the first lurgi of the new season. Ho hum.

Emerging from my pit, mostly because it's Friday and therefore 'Graham the Veg-man Day' I was disappointed when I missed the guy as he was off up my drive like a ferret up a drainpipe once he'd delivered my order - I guess Veg Men too have busy days! Not having spent time scarfing back tea and having a chin wag, I decided to Do Something about the stockpile of apples from the orchard. Unfortunately, these don't really 'keep' and therefore rather than see them go wrinkly and end up as chicken-or-compost-bin-fodder I decided chutney was probably the best bet. Pottering around with industrial quantities of dark soft brown sugar, cider vinegar and a varied selection of jars from my spice cupboard, I think I may have discovered the new remedy for the remnants of lurgi as the resulting heady miasma permeated the house - it certainly cleared out my sinuses. Several hours later and more jars have been added to the store cupboard - fondly nicknamed the 'Ray Mears Nuclear Survival Store' owing the amount of stuff hoarded in there. It's just a matter of waiting the requisite 8 or so weeks now until the syrupy gloop matures....

Mini, however, was not impressed. "What's the stink?" was his comment on proceedings. Which beggars the question what is he going to make of tomorrow's effort - pickled pears, to be ready in time for the Christmas cold meat feasts?