Fruit Cake, Welsh Hills and a Pint of Tea
Andrew Bluett-Duncan
Director
Christmas came early to the “Art of Living Shed” this year in the form of a Fortnum’s Fruit Cake. Beautifully presented and quite exquisite to eat, courtesy of Martin Turner, our Riedel account manager.
Of course, when I wrote last week that I’d gone looking for one in Fortnum’s a couple of weeks ago, I did suspect that he might read it and store up the information for Christmas coming. I didn’t expect him to find what I’d missed, and quite so quickly. So, my thanks to Martin for his kindness. My afternoon Earl Grey is now accompanied by a slice of possibly the best fruit cake to come my way... ever. I may have to increase my afternoon walk as a consequence, or add a minute or two to my rowing time
My trip to Liverpool was just lovely. It’s become something of a family joke that whilst any normal person can do the journey quite comfortably in about four and a half hours, it quite typically takes me, as it did this visit, almost seven, and that’s on a Wednesday afternoon.... I don't wish to appear paranoid, but I ask you, what do the M25 (2 hours and about 30 miles) M40, M42, M6, and M62 have against me? And this in temperatures over 30c.
Anyway I got there in time for a drink in their garden* and then supper (tea, as my brother insists on calling it... a completely inaccurate description of a meal where that drink, quite rightly, has no part to play) which as usual with Babs cooking, was delicious.
*A heavily Oaked Chardonnay in a Riedel Vinum Montrachet glass, kindly gifted by the host's older brother. If you find yourself vituperative in your dismissal of Oaked Chardonnay (ABC - anything but chardonnay???) I'm going to strongly recommend you reconsider their position if you haven't tried it from a Riedel Vinum Montrachet glass. Transformative.
If that day was hot, then it was nothing compared with the following day. We drove south across the Runcorn Bridge to North Wales in an air-conditioned car. When we got to where Jim had planned our walk, just outside the town of Llangollen, we were hit by temperatures in the mid-thirties.
Our walk, not much more than a stroll in reality, was beside and a little above the River Dee, fast-moving and rocky, set amongst some of the most beautiful scenery that North Wales has to offer. It was a circular walk of only two and a half miles, yet somehow appeared to be entirely uphill, despite ending up where we'd begun. I did consider that Welsh hills are simply one-way but maybe I should blame the heat and possibly my advancing years.
I've long been suspicious of travel and 'holidays' in particular and maybe these two travel paradoxes illustrate the vindictive temperament of the laws of physics. Is it nature's way of telling me that straying outside of the South East is best left for special occasions & emergencies?
To Product
This weeks product is the humble 1 Pint Tea Mug. An oversized beast that we have stocked since time immemorial. But now my chums at Country Kitchenware Supplies (CKS) have produced them in a lovely range of eight colours. Nine if you include the original white.
The mugs are actually hand painted and described as having a solid colour. This seems to me to be slightly inaccurate. They are clearly brush painted, and I think that really adds to their charm and individual appeal. No two are quite identical, which is probably rather more interesting than having fifty perfectly identical mugs marching around your kitchen.
They are made from porcelain, which is a very tough material, far more resistant to chipping than ordinary pottery/china, and also heatproof, so you can safely put one in the oven or microwave. They are, of course, dishwasher-proof and freezer-proof as well, although I haven’t yet thought of a convincing reason for the latter. Unless, you are planning to freeze a pint of tea, in which case perhaps we need to have a conversation.
Our bit of sales patter on the website also suggests that they are large enough not only for a pint of tea, but also a good mug of soup. I’m not entirely sure that I approve of soup mugs. Better, I think, to sit down with a steaming bowl and a soup spoon, and preferably with another human being. But then I’m a traditionalist.
The other complimentary lines in the range include a rather wide (very trendy - apparently) but shallower mug that holds 460ml. So, smaller than the pint version but still bigger than most you'll encounter. If you are a serial 'mug knocker over' (or know one), then these are the mug for you.
If this appeals to you, use code BART20 online to get 20% off when you buy two or more of Wm Bartleet items, or let us know who you are if coming into the shops.
LAST MINUTE OFFER
With a bit of luck we still have a month or so of fine weather and outdoor dining ahead. If you take your BBQ seriously, this is the knife that belongs next to your tongs. It's a 17.5cm Japanese knife with a tall, curved blade built specifically for the prep work that comes with grilling and smoking: trimming fat, spatchcocking, slicing through ribs and carving rested joints.
Alternatively, in the complete set, alongside the knife is a pair of 100% leather heat-resistant gloves with long forearm cuffs for safer handling of hot grates and cast iron, and a generous 50 x 40cm two-sided bamboo board with a smooth prep side and a grooved side for collecting meat juices. We are already offering a significant discount on the knife and set, but get a further 15% off this week with code BBQ15, or let us know if coming into the shops.
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