Jam Campaign 2025.

 

With the excessive heat we're experiencing, there isn't much we can do outdoors, so I started this year's Jam Making with a couple of pots of Plum Jam.

A huge branch had broken off one of our wild 'Bird Plum' trees in the recent storm, the weight of all the fruit was too much for it. So, I collected about a kilo in a bucket, and made some pip-less jam. I had enough to fill two pots, with about half a pot remaining to be consumed whilst we're here. Not much, but it's a start.

I shall, of course, be making more later; or Lady M will. We also intend to make Blackberry Jam, Greengage Jam, Fig Jam, and most importantly Apricot Jam. The tasks will be equally divided.

As I write, Lady M is making some Strawberry Jam. The urge is all invasive. (I've just tasted her Strawberry Jam for my breakfast this morning; superb. Her best ever)

Lady M often makes her infamous Plum Pip Jam with these wild plums. It gives the children, and me, the chance to play Eeny Meeny Miny Moe, or Rich man, Poor man, Beggar man, Thief. However, these days, like me, she prefers to take the pips out.

In case you're interested, I used 600 gms of cooked Plum 'pulp', 400 gms of Jam Sugar, and the juice of about half a Lemon.

Verdict: Superb flavour, but a little runny.

Chavissimo Central.

I suppose I have to admit that I am partly responsible for one of the most tacky and excessive weddings ever.

As a regular client of Amazon, I have unwittingly contributed to the sickening cost of Jeff Bezos's nuptials.

I have nothing against Bezos or his new fragrant wife, his success has been well earned; but to flaunt his wealth in this sickening fashion is in extremely poor taste. I think there were as many photographers there as there were Z List celebs.

How much better it would have been to have held the ceremony in London's Chelsea Town Hall (very chic) for less than £1,000, then donate all the left-over money to build and equip a new Hospital Wing somewhere, and fund its upkeep for a decade or two.

Had he done that, or something similar, he would have gained huge respect around the world instead of which he is now seen as just another exhibitionist billionaire with far too much money to waste. He and his guests have also managed to infuriate the good people of Venice.

However, I wish them well; but I do recommend that they stay out of the limelight for a while so that we can all try to forget that offensive estimated waste of $46 Millions.

This (below) is my own parent's wedding photo. Let's face it; when the big day is all over, all you have left is a photo on the mantlepiece. One is as good as another, regardless of cost.

Phew, what a scorcher!

I'm hoping that our tomorrow's forecast was just a typing error, otherwise I shall be moving into the freezer!

 

Little known cheese and sausage

We all know, and enjoy, Camembert and Brie, but there is another member of that family of French cheeses that is far less known, especially back in the UK. 

Like its siblings, Chaource has a white rind, and is very similar to Camembert in its interior. As you can see from the photo, it is more barrel shaped than Camembert. It has a creamy texture, and if left out in the open for a day or two will begin to melt into a deliciously flowing, silky, 'gloop'.

It was my son Kimbo who first introduced me to Chaource, and we now buy it in preference to either Camembert or Brie; although we do buy Somerset Brie occasionally which is excellent.

If you haven't tried it, and can find some, I recommend that you give it a go.

I recently mentioned 'Figatelli'. Well, it's not sold as Figatelli here (trades description act no doubt, as it's not made in Corsica) but as Saucisse seche de Foie. The maker is the respected house of Milhau, and if your taste runs to the 'adventurous', then this could be for you (if you happen to be in France this Summer).

Personally I can't get enough of it. It has a really haunting taste of dried Liver. I love it.

A-Ha - Take On Me. 1984

This is not only a very nice song from those Norwegian A-Ha boys (regardless of the incomprehensible lyrics), but Steve Barron's video was also one of the best of the era.

Sadly, I hear that the singer, Morten Harket, has Parkinson's. 

In his day, posters of Harket were on every teenage girl's bedroom wall, and his obvious good looks made him into a universal heartthrob.

Enjoy both the song and the video! I send him my best wishes.

Heaven then Hell.

There we were enjoying our evening glass of piquette on those two chairs below, when the sky began to darken from the West.

At about 6 pm the first drops of rain began to fall, so we headed for our covered terrace and settled-down anew. But not for long; suddenly all hell let loose, and hailstones the size of golfballs began to bounce around us, it started to thunder, and the first vicious flash of lightning cut our power supply. It always does!

It was a very violent, but short-lived, storm. The wind raged at over 100 kms/hr, and when we ventured out this morning there was mess everywhere, and still no power.

The pool was full of leaves (below). Lady M courageously cleaned as much as she could, and it was presentable again by midday.

It was about lunchtime when I began to worry about the contents of our freezer. I have only just stocked-up with essentials, and it was looking as if I could lose it all. Then at 1.30 pm the power came back on again.  

This isn't a rare occasion. When we have storms here, they are usually quite impressive. Power invariably goes off, and trees are felled all around. They do make a terrible mess.

So, we are back to normal again. Life continues. And the contents of the freezer are safe. In a few hours time we shall be back on those chairs, sipping our piquette, and discussing the inefficiencies of the EDF (Those French electricity folk).  

C'est la vie!

 

The view from the terrace.

Once again we have Sunflowers a short distance from our front door. I suppose that if there's going to be any crop there (other than grass) then the most attractive must be Sunflowers.

The photo below was taken a few years ago. The present crop, which is in the same position, is still very small, so no flowers as yet.

Agriculture has pretty much come to a standstill here. Farmers live on payments from Brussels that represent their surface of cultivatable land ownership. One no longer has to do anything with it to make a living.

In the case of the Sunflowers, they are grown in partnership with share-croppers who organise all the work, and split the profits.  

I have one neighbour who has about 6 Cows, otherwise they cut grass and make hay, and in Autumn they gather Chestnuts. Very different to when I arrived in the area over 50 years ago. Farming down here has rather lost its way!

Still, who am I to complain. In a few weeks time I shall be looking out onto a field of Sunflowers, and what could be more Southern French than that!!!