I suppose there are just two major changes that we all make at this time of year; and these involve food and clothing.
The Thermal Vests go back into the wardrobe, the thick overcoats get put away, and salads appear on the dining table.
Or even,
Salads are inherently 'healthy', so I allow myself the occasional luxury of a Hard Boiled Egg, Mini Pork Pie, or half a Scotch Egg to accompany them.
In France we base our Summer salads around Tomatoes. The best Tomatoes in England seem to be the smaller ones; in France it's the bigger the better. I no longer grow my own, but my good friend and neighbour José grows lots and usually tells me to help myself. Nothing can beat an outdoor-grown, sunshine-bathed, Marmande style, Tomato.
On the clothing front, Shorts are now seen everywhere, and T Shirts are being worn without any high-tog Polar-Fleece overcoats. In a few weeks time my shorts will be worn daily for several months.
Cro, have you tried the dark rich red and well matured medium sized Vine Tomatoes? I've become quite addicted to them. I'll often bite into one as a filler snack during the day. And as sweet as they are, the only downside is that you have to pay a lot more for them in Sainsburys.
ReplyDeleteI think I know the ones you mean, and I often find them disappointing. My problem is that I'm used to growing my own or picking my own from my neighbour, and their flavour is amazing.
DeleteIt's not summer here yet. Locals wear jackets. Visitors are confused and think it's hot. Not time for shorts yet. 21o cloudy with showers. But salads, yes. The tomatoes have taste although they must be hot house. Cabbages and lettuces are still good too.
ReplyDeleteI think our max temp' has been around 14 C, yet out come the shorts and T shirts. I think they respond to sunshine rather that temps.
DeleteTomatoes supplied by English supermarkets are rubbish. Pale, hard and tasteless. I remember a label saying 'grown for flavour'. What else are they grown for???
ReplyDeleteI have some M & S small ones at the moment that are quite sweet, but what I really want are big fat ones with real flavour.
DeleteExactly what we had last night. Salad, pork pie , also a jacket potato....done all crispy in the oven. I buy the small round tomatoes. I like the vine ones but won't pay the price.
ReplyDeleteI like Summer food. Small salads and a lump of meat on the BBQ is my idea of heaven.
DeleteMeanwhile, downunder, long pants and thicker coats are being unearthed for summer storage.
ReplyDelete"from" summer storage
ReplyDeleteYou need a small Summer bolt-hole in Southern Europe to benefit from two summers a year.
DeleteAt the first hint of sun, many people strip off to shorts and tee-shirts, only to don warmer clothes a day later, or even later in the same day.
ReplyDeleteI just said above that it's probably the sunshine more than temperature that brings out the shorts. Although here in Brighton some (crazy) people wear shorts all year round.
DeleteStill wearing my padded coat, socks and boots up here.
ReplyDeleteI've just come back from shopping and I had to remove my sweater in the car park; I was simply too warm.
DeleteSalads and gardening. How else would we lose the weight we put on in the winter?
ReplyDeleteQuite right. And add plenty of swimming and it'll fall off.
DeleteLooking forward to a change from winter salad to summer salad here! We have been having temperatures in the balmy teens, despite a chill breeze.... unfortunately it looks like we will be back in single figures in a day or so!!
ReplyDeleteIt never lasts does it. But I suppose that's what makes our climate so interesting.
DeleteMy older brother also lives in France and co-incidentally his neighbour is also called José. He came from Spain, married a French woman and together they breed horses.
ReplyDeleteIt must be an 'official' name. I've known 5 generations of José's family, and have hopes to know a 6th.
DeleteHere 14 degrees is still cold for us. The sun is shining and everything is still green. Soon it will all be yellow until the first rains in October or November.
ReplyDeleteI begin to feel happier once the temp' gets above 10 C. I can cope with that.
DeleteOh be still my beating heart, a scotch egg
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine you 'swooning'.
DeleteThere's a coincidence - I had my first salad of the season last night - with a crispy jacket potato and herring fillets in a creamy sauce (courtesy of the local Aldi). I'd forgotten that I'd bought tomatoes too - I knew there was something missing.
ReplyDeleteIt's 21º and cloudy, but I've left my vest off this morning!
Definitely salad weather. The Herring fillets sound nice!
DeleteThe Scotch egg looks so yummy.
ReplyDeleteThey were from M & S, and were a tad dry, but with a nice flavour.
DeleteIt is still rather cold in Massachusetts. The Magnolias and daffodils are blooming. We just need some warmth. I prepared large salads last night. Sliced chicken, ham, tomatoes and cheese on a bed of greens. Heated crusty rolls with a glass of wine made the meal perfect. I hope to see salad weather soon.
ReplyDeleteThe above were lunchtime salads, and therefore quite meagre!
DeleteNeed I say "Lovliest of trees the cherry now, is hung with bloom along the bough, and all along the woodland ride is wearing pink for Eastertide" well more or less Houseman and I am sure if he were still alive he wouldn't object.
ReplyDeleteHe was right, Cherry blossom is spectacular.
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