.jpg)
"Are you from North of the Border?" he asked.
"No, I'm very much a Southern boy" I replied.
"I only ask because I see you've bought Haggis and Black pudding" he continued.
He was about my age, white haired and had a big pleasant smile.
"It was the last Haggis on the shelf, so I thought I'd better buy it whilst the going was good" I said laughing.
"There'll be plenty more" said the check-out lady. "The shelf might already be filled again" she said optimistically.
"How do you eat it?" asked the old gentleman.
"I expect the Scots would have me hanged for it, but I cut 1cm slices (it comes in a thick tube) and fry for a short while" I replied. "None of the neaps-n-tatties for me I'm afraid, I'm a rebel"
"Is it good?" he asked.
"For a commercial product it's OK. There are other ones that I prefer, but M & S is my nearest supplier, so when the urge is there I buy wherever I can".
I paid my bill, wished him a good day, and returned home for my Sunday breakfast (above). What a very pleasant couple of minutes at a check-out desk.
I enjoy haggis and mashed tatties. In fact we gad that for supper during last week when the weather turned cold and damp. Good rib sticking stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes, good winter tucker. I love it.
DeleteUp here it is often deep fried in batter but then many things are.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the egg and square sausage?
I try to limit my breakfast calorie intake to less that 4,000.
DeleteWas the white-haired fellow with the big pleasant smile working on the till at M&S? Perhaps you could get a part time job there too. It would help to pay for the new car.
ReplyDeleteHe was a kindly elderly gentleman, escaping the rigours of socialist Brighton for a few pleasant M & S minutes, by chatting to a like-minded Liberal. Neither of us would dream of taking away the employment of those who really need it.
DeleteOh now I understand. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
DeleteOK.
DeleteDo Tesco sell it? My next order is just about to go in and I am unable to get out to try it?
ReplyDeleteI buy from M & S, Sainbury's, and in tins. But I expect it's sold everywhere these days, it's becoming popular.
DeleteWe love Haggis in this house, and eat it fairly often.
ReplyDeleteBroken up, and served really hot with a small amount of good gravy over a baked potato is a particular favourite in cold weather!
Our local farm shop sell black pudding and haggis 'whirls', they're lovely with HP sauce in a sandwich made of good sourdough! X
So many people turn their noses up when they hear the word 'Haggis'; they shouldn't, it's delicious.
DeleteFor some such checkout communication might be their only social interaction for the day. Maybe that was his and he was pleased.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're 100% right, which is why I always take time to chat to such people. Dare I say it, but it might make their day!
DeleteAltho, I have seen them mentioned before, I have no idea what haggis and black pudding actually are! Google, here I come! :)
ReplyDeleteThey both comprise of things you'd rather not know about, but when made into the actual finished product are very good!
DeleteNot forgetting of course faggots. You may have trouble with the wording because faggots are a Black Country delicacy. Innards wrapped up in caul. This is a vegetarian writing this but as a child there was such a thing as stuffed heart as well.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I love faggots in a rich onion gravy!
DeleteI still do stuffed lamb's hearts for husband, daughter in law and myself, but our son simply refuses to even try them. We also, when we can find it, really enjoy roasted Ox heart!
When we sacrifice an animal for food, we owe it to the creature to use as much as we possibly can.
My mother used to make stuffed hearts when I was small, I loved them. I used to buy Faggots in Wales, they too were delicious. I wouldn't know where to buy them down here in Sussex.
DeleteI love haggis and don't mind a bit of black pudding.I always chat to people ...... often for fa too long !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteWhen you have a dog, chatting to strangers becomes a way of life.
DeleteI tried Haggis when in Scotland and did not like it. Many people are seeking friendship and a chat with you probably made this lovely man's day.
ReplyDeleteYou might enjoy the more commercial version of Haggis, as sold in major stores. It's probably a much tastier product.
DeleteAs I live alone I often only get to chat to people in supermarkets. It is quite normal. I like both haggis and black pudding and fry both as that is the only way I have ever had them, introduced to me when I lived in the North East. I like haggis but find black pudding rather dull but ok with a fried egg. I am glad to meet people like you or Jackie who always chat to people. I also always chat to people.
ReplyDeleteI've stopped buying the M & S black pudding, as it was tasteless. Too sanitised! You never know who you're going to meet when you chat to strangers, always an interesting surprise. I think people who chat like that are inherently nice.
DeleteThe older I get the more I find conversations like these little sweet moments
ReplyDeleteI have never tried either, but I remember my dad talking about black pudding. I don't remember how he cooked and ate it, but I know I will probably never try it. These days I only buy what I know I like, so as not to be throwing away money.
ReplyDeleteYou're more likely to like haggis than black pudding. Just don't look at the ingredients.
DeleteI had to look up black pudding, haggis and faggot. I found out that we have similar recipes in Germany, of course from the time when every part of a slaughtered animal was used up. Our butcher sells Leberkloesschen, similar to faggots, and I quite like them. Haggis and black pudding are more regional specialities, but as nose to tail is the trend in fashionable cuisine now, I expect them to turn up on the menus more often.
ReplyDeleteHilde in Germany
The only town I've visited in Germany was Bayreuth (sp?), where we ate wonderful sausages and choucroute. I was only there for two days for a wedding.
Delete