There seems to be a bit of a seasonal thing going on in my mind here, what with summer and spring ideas parodying themselves for autumn in the last couple of posts: anyway, today I went out to gather the last of the blackberries (not for wine this time but just for eating) and I was diverted by a positive cornucopia of rose hips. Rose hips have been hovering at the edge of my mind for a while now: they are everywhere at this time of year, and like a lot of hedgerow produce, under-used and undervalued. People tend to think that all you can do with them is make rose hip syrup, but this is not true. Incidentally, every time I think of rose hip syrup I hear Hilda’s voice in my mind. I mean of course the Hilda of ‘Howard and Hilda’: she of the hand-knitted twin sweaters and camomile tea. If you still don’t know who I’m on about here’s a clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7RrYJVCmqA
Howard and Hilda appear about 4 minutes in, in their typical matching sweaters. For my money, EDC, though not as much fun, is more thoughtful and better written than ‘The Good Life.’ I became obsessed with it at one point, which I guess is appropriate…
Anyway… like I said, I can never think of rose hip syrup without hearing Hilda’s voice offering Martin some. I picked a pound or so this afternoon and they are beautiful.
Kirk out
Sarada Gray 