Sweet and Sour

Now that the week’s getting on it looks like Mr Brown got last weeks’ forecast wrong – we are somewhat short of fruit and veg. I can only guess that Sunday’s Wesak guests overdid it with the clean-up. Certainly on Monday morning the fridge was sparkling and spacious, with clean decks and a fresh breeze; which, post-festival, is unusual weather, but actually just how the kitchen manager likes it when he’s taking the helm. This time though, my cooking stint was short, and with the silent week in full swing, and the heat up on the sweet-and-sour, I’m very much appreciating Chris, Kath and Jay's superior captaincy. And that’s not the only thing; there's also the newly re-jigged dishes rota on which I seem to be faring rather well. Too well I fear - I sense a washing-up squall heading my way.

Outside however, no squalls but plenty of blanket cloud and rain, together with the odd surprise: like yesterday in the garden, coming-to at the end of the walking path, and there not twenty yards away, Mr Fox and his wind-flattened ears, perusing the sheep. Then today, waking up to a new blue sky and back at the same spot finding it silently still, with the barley below frozen quiet like a green Arctic dream - nice discoveries and good grist for the silent weeks’ contemplative mill.

…Ah, thank you, that’s a kind offer, but no we’ve got plenty of corn for it. On the other hand, as mentioned, yes, we really would appreciate some:

• fruit and vegetables
• soya milk
• tahini
• tinned tomatoes
• sesame oil

Whilst some useful non-food items would be:

• small bread baskets
• wood for wood-burning stoves
• Large Letter stamps (1st or 2nd class)
• small denomination stamps (eg.2p,5p,1p)
• larger denomination stamps (eg.£1)
• plastic rake
• Ecover toilet/multi-surface/cream cleaners
• rubber marigolds (hands not garden)
• white spirit (non-numinous variety please)
• 40W/60W screw-in energy-saving light bulbs

Thank you but as well as having plenty of corn we also have plenty of kitchen utensils and towels, toothbrushes and eggs, lentils and instant coffee, juice and onions, cakes and pasta, tea bags and spices.