Olan Giech
8th Jun 2007, 15:33
Nowthen, depending on who you talk with depends on the point of view.
Talk with anyone in the meteorological department in the Italian government and they'll say that this past winter was the warmest on record.
Talk with any Italian farmer and they'll tell you that the winter never actually arrived.
Evidence of the latter can be found in the first photo.
Figs in April!
So who was it that said "Global warming is a myth."?
Mmmmmm, things that make you say "Mmmmmm".
These figs reached mature size and fell from the tree without reaching ripeness, they can now be found rotting in the street, whilst this, natural, year's figs are budding on other trees.
Now what has this to do with the majority of forum members living in the British Isles?
Well, funny I should raise this point, because my Pa has a fig tree in his garden in Cardiff, however over recent years he has been unable to harvest the fruit because the "blooming blackbirds" have discovered that figs taste rather nice and so ruin the fruit before it fully ripens. Thus leaving my poor Pa frustrated with not a fig to put with his prosciuto. Quite literally.
Thankfully I have discovered, through my own natural curiosity, a way of beating the blackbirds to the finishing post.
Not with prosciuto but with a fine curry, (see picture 2).
An under-ripe and still firm fig, sliced as a courgette and, added to a vegetable curry creates a flavour and aromour akin to coconut milk.
So next time you should chance upon an under-ripe fig, grab it quickly and chuck it (nicely diced) into a ragł, byriani or even a chicken masala.
I must add that this most recent tip from the Poacher's Corner will do little in helping the fiscal plight of the Sri Lankan Coconut Company, now unfortunately heading towards forced redundancies, but it will certainly put a long awaited frown upon the foreheads of those once cuckling blackbirds.
Now, when I was but a nipper my grandfather (my Pa's Pa) told me "the way to catch a blackbird is by sprinkling salt on its tail" and years later I wanted to pull his ear over that one, though alas ne'aer did I satiate that particular desire.
However, I wish I could now tell him "the way to beat a blackbird is to make a curry", just so that I could watch him scratch his head over that.
Instead I'll send my dear Pa (et al) a link to this page and let him chuckle, or cuckle, to himself whilst he watches the rice boil.
'Tis good to be back, 'tis better to be productive.
Thanks to Ian, for reminding me why I stayed here in the first place.
Talk with anyone in the meteorological department in the Italian government and they'll say that this past winter was the warmest on record.
Talk with any Italian farmer and they'll tell you that the winter never actually arrived.
Evidence of the latter can be found in the first photo.
Figs in April!
So who was it that said "Global warming is a myth."?
Mmmmmm, things that make you say "Mmmmmm".
These figs reached mature size and fell from the tree without reaching ripeness, they can now be found rotting in the street, whilst this, natural, year's figs are budding on other trees.
Now what has this to do with the majority of forum members living in the British Isles?
Well, funny I should raise this point, because my Pa has a fig tree in his garden in Cardiff, however over recent years he has been unable to harvest the fruit because the "blooming blackbirds" have discovered that figs taste rather nice and so ruin the fruit before it fully ripens. Thus leaving my poor Pa frustrated with not a fig to put with his prosciuto. Quite literally.
Thankfully I have discovered, through my own natural curiosity, a way of beating the blackbirds to the finishing post.
Not with prosciuto but with a fine curry, (see picture 2).
An under-ripe and still firm fig, sliced as a courgette and, added to a vegetable curry creates a flavour and aromour akin to coconut milk.
So next time you should chance upon an under-ripe fig, grab it quickly and chuck it (nicely diced) into a ragł, byriani or even a chicken masala.
I must add that this most recent tip from the Poacher's Corner will do little in helping the fiscal plight of the Sri Lankan Coconut Company, now unfortunately heading towards forced redundancies, but it will certainly put a long awaited frown upon the foreheads of those once cuckling blackbirds.
Now, when I was but a nipper my grandfather (my Pa's Pa) told me "the way to catch a blackbird is by sprinkling salt on its tail" and years later I wanted to pull his ear over that one, though alas ne'aer did I satiate that particular desire.
However, I wish I could now tell him "the way to beat a blackbird is to make a curry", just so that I could watch him scratch his head over that.
Instead I'll send my dear Pa (et al) a link to this page and let him chuckle, or cuckle, to himself whilst he watches the rice boil.
'Tis good to be back, 'tis better to be productive.
Thanks to Ian, for reminding me why I stayed here in the first place.