One reader reminded me that at about the time of dinner-dances we had meals in a basket. Who remembers them. They were usually either scampi and chips or chicken and chips.
A few years ago we stopped at a pub on the way from Norfolk to Yorkshire. They had what they called a throwback section on their lunch menu which included the aforementioned chicken or scampi in a basket.
“it’s proved very popular,” the landlord said to us.
So with a straight face I asked if I could have soup in a basket.
“No we don’t do that. It would be a bit messy,” he replied without the hint of a smile and probably thinking that he had an absolute moron in front of him.
Talking of Scampi. Do you remember when it was regarded as a posh option – much more expensive than bog standard fish and chips? Now scampi is cheaper.
On the way back from North Norfolk we stopped at the fish and chip shop at Roughton. A piece of Cod was £6. Scampi was £4.50.
I had occasion to go to the dentist last week for my three monthly clean. I tried to talk Paul the dentist into writing a column for Hethersett Herald on his work with hedgehogs. “I’m not much of a writer,” he said. “That’s ok I’m not much of a dentist,” I replied.
He asked me if I had been on any of my adventures recently and that made me sound as if I was a member of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five or Secret Seven (if they were secret how do we know there were seven of them)?
It did make me want to re-read those books. A couple of years ago I re-visited Swallows and Amazons for the umpteenth time and then started Coot Club and really enjoyed those two books by Arthur Ransome. The latter was set on the Norfolk Broads.
I vividly remember when I was young regularly going to Hellesdon Library and regularly having books that were overdue. I have a photo of me as a youngster sitting in a chair in the lounge and pretending to read a book which I remember was called Speed, Speed, Speed. No idea what it was about or whether I actually read it. Perhaps it was about speed.
My favourite author was either Geoffrey Trease or Henry Treece. I always get them mixed up and haven’t come across any of their books for years. Henry Treece wrote children’s historical novels but so did Geoffrey Trease. Looking at their list of books written I believe it may have been Geoffrey. Would love to revisit some of them.
Pictures today were taken on a walk round Wymondham. The town was awash with floral colour.