More short stories are on the way, I promise. I too am penning one but life has been rather frantic of late. In fact, it has been somewhat of a social whirlwind. Over the past three weeks I have performed a comedy skit in the Groucho Club Gang Show, interviewed Dick Strawbridge (Masterchef finalist and eco hero) in Cornwall, waterskiied in the Camel estuary, luncheoned at the Tresanton Hotel St Mawes, shot a saucy calendar for the Micks' Tour, placated my bank manager, negotiated extensions on deadlines, been birdwatching in Suffolk and this weekend made cider in Somerset.
We used an old press on the glorious farm owned by a Colonel in the Royal Marines. We worked like stink turning the wheel, mashing and smashing, scooping and patting until finally pressing. We had three pressings in all with four cheeses a piece (the mashed apple wrapped in squares of muslin) I'm now an expert! Eight or so adults were helped and hinder in equal measure by scores of enthusiastic children who gathered apples for mashing or turned them into dangerous missiles. The adults quaffed cider to quench their thirst. Cider making is hard physical work. By the end of the day after sipping 7.5% scrumpy I was wittier than ever and my lips had gone numb. I also entertained the cider troops by taking off a layer of clothing as I mashed the apple into the mincer with a big spade while standing precariously on an old chair. Luckily for me (but not for the local farmers) I had seven layers of clothes on and stopped at my T-shirt. Apples were gathered at a frantic pace to make my job harder so I became warmer. Each time a layer was removed there was a collective cheer. It was very amusing. Then the kids and I made up a cider chant. Although in the end they returned to their favourite rap from the new Yeo Valley advert (see link below - it's very funny). It was an idyllic scene. A truly picture postcard image of rural Somerset. The weather this autumn has been glorious - it's been sunny and warm but as the daylight fades the nights become crisp. It's also been a bountiful autumn. The number of barrels of apple juice we filled from a small orchard of trees is amazing. Next weekend we will pick sloes and make gin. Everything centres around alcohol in the country, well in Great Britain in general really! One of my favourite cocktails in the world is a Sloe-gasm. Sloe gin and champagne. It's knocks your socks off. I think we'll have to have a few of those together when you're all back home - ahem, the cocktail that is.
Check out the Yeo Valley rap: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOHAUvbuV4o
It's the Cotswold Team Chase this coming Sunday (31st October). I'm really looking forward to it. Many ex and current service men will compete in the gruelling military class. I am too chicken to even attempt the novice course. Perhaps another year... The annual event is in support of The British Forces Foundation, a charity dedicated to boosting the morale of the Armed Forces (a bit like me with the Micks!) To find out more about the BFF's work go to www.bff.org.uk and click on the show reel to see the charity in action.
Will post another installment soon....
LL Charlie xx
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