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Thursday 20 December 2018

Community Feast



There are three very small villages which nestle very close together in this part of the Lincolnshire Wolds, you won't find these names on any official map but, for blogging purposes, I call them Little Bunting, Butterbump Splash! and Dovecote Dell.

 A special Community  Christmas Dinner (for older people)  was held at our local pub.     It is a new venture, sponsored by a trades union, and set to be come an annual event.   The surprising thing was that there were 37 diners, approximately half of whom were unknown to me and, even more tellingly,  unknown to our dining companions, both of whom have much deeper roots in the area.

We could do with some more people at our monthly meetings in the village hall, so we need to find out where they hide themselves, see if we can get them to come along.

Upon arrival we were given a drink and then had time to mix and mingle before settling down at our tables.     Surprisingly,  the tables hadn't been pushed together to form the more normal 'U' shape which the tavern normally employs for such events. 

It was very much a straightforward menu, the only choices being turkey with all the trimmings, or a vegetarian option.    I wish I had stuck to doing what I normally do, just opting to have the main course vegetables, it would have been perfectly adequate.   Instead I had the rice stuffed peppers - and the only way I can describe the taste is  what I imagine pine toilet cleaner would taste like, were one foolish enough to try it. 

The company was wonderful.  Husband and I shared a table with 'the Squire's wife', who helps to run a very busy farm, keeps active in community events, and rumour has it that she is a mean croquet player!     We were joined by my dear friend Rachel, who was widowed about 40 years ago, when she was very young.   Despite her loss and grief, she continued to run the family farm and to raise her young family.    Political discussions really see her come to life.   Brexit was mentioned, of course.

I have ordered a pair of non-slip, non-skid granny slippers - bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted, I know, I just don't want to give a repeat performance.     I am heading into Louth this morning, I would say for a quick dash around for some fruit and vegetables, but that won't be possible.    It will be a slow and sensible amble, which is all that the bruising will allow!   That'll teach me.









27 comments:

  1. Pity about the food but at least you had an enjoyable time. Hope the aches are easing.

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    1. Thank you, Susan. Yesterday was painful, but I feel a bit better today.

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  2. We are braving a visit to our village hall tonight for a quiz. I'm terrified at the prospect.

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    1. I hope you enjoyed it, Sue. I find quiz nights can get deeply competitive and very serious, we only went in for a quiet drink!

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  3. Oh dear, the food doesn't sound the best - Quorn "turkey" roast comes in a cylinder shape so maybe.......?
    Be careful hobbling around the shops

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    1. Hello Sue, It was definitely a hobble, yesterday was bad, but I feel a lot better today. Soon be back to 'normal'!

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  4. Sounds like a great social event but not a gourmet meal.Glad you enjoyed it.Barbara

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    1. Hello Barbara, The atmosphere was good, just a shame that most people were sticking to their family groups instead of doing a little mingling now and then.

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  5. Picture the scene... mug of tea to hand I sat in a shaft of sunlight, looking out to sea preparing to read the Lincolnshire arm of the Archers OAP luncheon report. Oh dear me no, this imagined scene of bucolic bliss was I am afraid to say not forthcoming. It had all the makings of an Agatha Christie whodunnit. Was it the Harpic that did for Elaine, at the very least it would have got round the bend, or being squidged into rounds that did it for the turkey? Then we have hubs twice, yes twice nearly choking on the aforesaid bird. We saw Rachel really come to life with all the B word banter and were sadly left hanging as to what she actually said. If I really had to put money on whodunnit I think it must have been the chef who was obviously flown in by the eighteen and a half fully paid up members of the local union who you had never clapped eyes on before. Personally I blame it on Brexit...

    I do love your posts Elaine.

    LXX

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    1. I'm still perplexed by the 'pine' taste, I wonder whether some smokey barbecue sauce had been used - maybe? Best forgotten, whatever it was, the memory will fade in time, one way or another. My sit-upon was not enjoying being sat-upon when I wrote the post, hence the lack of too much fun. :(

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  6. Some reminiscent points in this blog, Elaine. Oh I remember it all so well..lol. Hope your recent injury is healing as it should.

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    1. Thanks, Valerie. It is definitely beginning to improve, thank goodness. I don't think Darcy Bussell need fear for her crown just yet!

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    2. Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog... sadly, I lost it during the transfer to the blog. I hadn't even read it....sob!

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    3. Don't worry about it, these things happen. I doubt it was anything terribly scintillating, Valerie.

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  7. Good idea sticking to the vegetables at least the good company made up for the lack of quality in the meal. Hope the bruising gets easier and your shopping gets done.

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    1. Shopping done, all safely gathered in. I can leave the shops to those who have less free time and think they need more groceries, ready for the siege. Ha, was that a grump I heard? I must be on the mend!!

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  8. I am not a member of the little church where I play cards, but I am concerned about its future. I make a small "tithe" every year to cover my share of the electricity and coffee. One of the group is a trustee and I asked him about their future, if they had enough money to carry on. And he sadly replied, money is not the issue. They are adequately funded. But the old members are dying and the new just not coming on.

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    1. That is the sad thing. Life today is lived in a very different way, and those things which helped glue communities together have fallen off the radar for many people. I feel a soap-box moment coming on, but I will spare everyone! I hope your holiday is everything that you could wish for.x

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  9. Must be nice to live in a village that small, looking at themop I'd say it was more like a hamlet. When I was young I knew most people in the village or was known. Now the place has expanded (and still is) so that there are over 3500 people live here so it's more like a town but stll as only a few village shops. Most admit the stuffed pepper does not sound very appitising.

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    1. They are definitely little more than hamlets today, which is a shame. In the past they were thriving communities, much larger populations, shops, school and amenities. Rural life. The wonder of it is that we still have the village pub!

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  10. Great post, and the dinner will hopefully be forgettable for you...although I don't know how you'd get the taste of pine cleaner out of your palette. Hope your traversing about the fruit and veggie tables is rewarding and not the least bit painful. We are socked in with rain, so I do hope you were blessed with golden rays of sunshine!

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    1. Your good wishes for golden sunshine arrived around 11am, the day transformed from wet and grey into blue sky and brilliant sunshine, so thank you! May your day be filled with sunshine, too. The greengrocer had everything that I needed, the fruit bowls are filled and we have a bowl full of pump chestnuts, fresh cranberries in the fridge, waiting to be turned into cranberry sauce. I feel much better today, thank you.

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  11. I'm glad you enjoyed the occasion, even if the food wasn't the best. And I do hope it becomes an annual event, it's a wonderful way of bringing the community together. X

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    1. Hello Jules, The Landlady at the pub said that next year is set to be an even bigger event... so I don't know whether they are going to open it to younger people, or perhaps they will extend the catchment area. We shall see!

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  12. Thank you....reading this today has lifted my mood....I shall imagine you shuffling around sedately. x

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    1. Quasimodo has been mentioned more than once, today!! I am doing well as long as I don't sit for too long, otherwise I seize up. I hope you are feeling lighter and happier, despite the shortness of the day.xx

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  13. Sorry to hear about your tumble, Elaine. I know what you mean about feeling shaken. I did the same last summer. Geesh...no fun.
    I probably would have chosen the same on the menu. :-(

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Lovely to hear from you.
I will try to answer comments in the next post.