Turkeys

The snow returned to Ilkeston today but there was only a relatively light covering although the vertical snow topped "Turkeys" sign in this butcher's shop in South Street didn't look out of place. Turkeys have become the meat of choice of many people for Christmas Day but this has not always been the case. In medieval times the gentry enjoyed whole carcasses of meat cooked on spits and boar and deer were on the menu. Later the pig became popular but it was James 1 who originally introduced turkey. Peacock and swan also found favour in Royal households but the meat was quite tough.

More recently turkey has come to the fore but I think refrigeration has had a lot to do with this. When I was a boy, our Sunday dinner usually consisted of beef, lamb or pork but at Christmas it was time for a treat and chicken was served. I remember chickens being delivered to the back door just before Christmas Day and I was often entrusted with the job of plucking it before mother removed the guts and prepared the bird for cooking. It didn't take many years before frozen chickens became more readily available and turkeys became accessible for working class people. Nowadays of course frozen turkeys are readily available in our supermarkets but traditional butchers like the one shown in the picture are still proud to supply fresh turkeys.

Bananas

There was a market in Ilkeston today but it was left to the traders to clear walkways through the snow so that it could take place. When we were in Nottingham earlier this week it was hard to tell that snow had fallen at all so it's a shame our councils whether county or borough didn't see fit to make Ilkeston's town centre a safer place for the population. It's well over a week since the first snowfall and although the main roads are clear the Market Place was still snow and ice covered which is a disgrace for the town centre. I bet a council worker was there today collecting the fees for the market stalls yet we are told that the local council are working hard with the traders to improve the markets. Maybe they studied at the University of Nick Clegg's Pledges! rake in the money but don't provide the service. Bananas!

One of the traders who was on site today was actually selling bananas which had been imported from Costa Rica. In the U.K. bananas aren't usually associated with Christmas but in another banana producing country, Uganda, it's a different story. In Uganda the birth of Jesus Christ or Sekukkulu is celebrated with a feast of chicken cooked in smoked banana leaves and serves with matoke which are steamed green bananas. Different countries, different traditions but all celebrating the same thing.

Mince Pies

The market today was somewhat depleted due in no small part to the snowy weather but Chapman's Bakers were there although our Saturday treat of their wonderful fruit filed Eccles Cakes were missing from the stall. Instead between the apple pies and baps they had packs of mince pies on display. Mince pies of course are just one of the food stuffs associated with Christmas. The origin of mince pies can be traced back a long way in history and at one time they were oval in shape and contained meat rather that the fruit and spices we associate with them today. In Oliver Cromwell's time when Christmas was banned they often included a an upright almond in the crust to represent Christ in the oval crib and there is still a superstition that it is lucky to eat one on each of the twelve days of Christmas. I'm not waiting that long - I intend having one with my supper drink tonight!

More Berries

Whilst out dodging the showers today, I photographed these berries on a Rowan tree that, like those on our holly tree will be providing more food for the birds.

These appear to be a slightly deeper shade of red than those of the holly and can also be used for human consumption when made into a jelly to be served with meat or brewed into wine or made into a liqueur. They can also be used to make a gargle for sore throats but I still think the birds will get first option on these on the tree at the back of the Town Hall.

Green Tomatoes

Just over three years ago I was immobilised with an ankle injury and spent a lot of time in the garden soaking up the fine weather. Photographic opportunities were limited but I did take a number of shots of the flowers, plants and vegetables including some of the ripening tomatoes in the greenhouse. If I had damaged my ankle this year the weather would have prevented me from sitting in the garden. today has been a particularly grey day with a cold wind and plenty of rain. The tomatoes in the greenhouse will need a lot more sunshine if they are going to ripen at all methinks. Global warming? No way!

Sandwiched

There's another of those information boards sandwiched between an old style telephone kiosk (much nicer than the new sort don't you think?) and a pub sign in front of the Poplar Inn on Lower Bath Street.

Don't take any notice though of the Live Music, Traditional Ales or Hot and Cold Food - the Poplar has closed and the pub is boarded up so if you want any food it will have to be from a nearby chip shop although the one directly opposite is also closed or like the information board - a sandwich!

Another Beanfeast

I was supposed to meeting up with some friends I used to play football with tonight but I woke up this morning with a headache and despite dosing myself all day long it has still not gone. I think it'll be a quiet night with my feet up once I've uploaded this. I hadn't even had the camera out of its case today until a few minutes ago when I wandered into the garden and took a few quick shots. Just checked back and it's only just over two weeks ago (July 2nd) when I captured a shot of the first runner bean to form so just look at them now. We had our first boiling yesterday but at this rate we shall have to be eating them for breakfast, dinner and tea and there'll still be enough for supper too until September at least.

One Bad Apple

I suppose it was inevitable really that come market day and the gold theme of the last few days, I would just have to capture an image of some Golden Delicious apples.

Unfortunately the label also said "France" which means they are out of season and have probably been in storage for some considerable time. They will also have plastic skins covering cotton wool flesh and be anything but delicious. Personally I prefer Braeburns and as there were some from the southern hemisphere which despite the distance travelled looked much fresher as they are in season there, we opted for some of those.

Counting The Calories

Well yesterday's gardening has certainly made its presence felt today - my back aches! But with all the additional exercise I realised I would be losing a few more calories so decided to replace some of them today with home made scones, home made apricot jam and a good dollop of clotted cream.

The recipe only made eight scones so we supplemented that with a Victoria sponge cake sandwiched together with blackcurrant jam and butter cream. Looks like there'll be more gardening on the cards then and I'll have to put up with the back ache!

Retirement Cake

After ten years at St Mary's Church, Rev. Allan Brown took his last service today before retiring. After the service there was the opportunity for the congregation to say their personal thank yous and goodbyes and also enjoy a few nibbles and a drink with Allan and his wife Loris.


And of course ther was a retirement cake to wish him bon voyage as he moves to pastures new.

Burns Night

I'm not aware of any strong connection between Ilkeston and Scotland but I have heard of Burns Night celebrations in our town previously. Today I spotted a poster in the shop window of Truly Scrumptious on South Street where haggis were on sale.


I can't say that haggis is something I've ever tasted but now that it is available locally I suppose there's always the possibility I could try it in the future. And according to the news last week our American friends will be able to taste it too as import regulations on British meat are about to be relaxed. Whether that was in time for Burns Night today I'm not sure but haggis should be freely available in the States next year. It'll go down well with a drop of Scotch!

It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without ....

There have been heavy snowfalls mainly down the eastern side of the country this week and I heard one weather forecaster say that it wouldn't be Christmas without snow. I don't think that is strictly true as a white Christmas in the UK is not that common but it set me thinking about the things that make for a modern Christmas.


For many people it isn't Christmas without hearing carols or popular songs including old favourites like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", Harry Belafonte's "Mary's Boy Child", Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song" or Judy Garland's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". Then of course there are more recent offerings from the likes of Cliff Richard, Wham, Wizzard, the X Factor winners and not forgetting the perennial "Merry Christmas Everybody" by Slade.

For others it's a Christmas film that makes the season - "Holiday Inn", "White Christmas", "Miracle On 34th Street", "Elf", "Santa Claus - The Movie", "The Grinch" - need I go on? There's TV regulars too like the Queen's Speech, Christmas specials of popular shows, endless repeats of programmes we've seen several times before but who would miss a Morecambe and Wise Show? "The Great Escape" or "The Eagle Has Landed" will probably be on at least one channel even if it is a satellite station and many would say that it just wouldn't be Christmas without "The Sound Of Music" - again!

For yet another group of people, it's the shopping, the baking, the turkey and the stuffing, the drinking, the merry-making and the family gatherings and while all the above contribute to making a good Christmas, isn't it time this week in particular to focus on the REAL reason for the festival - the birth of Jesus? However you celebrate, don't leave "Christ" out of "Christ"mas. After all it really wouldn't be Christmas without Him.

It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One! - From 'A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens