Apologies for the delayed publication. The letter was written last week, so the timing references are out.
Dear Steve,
Once again, I find myself in the position not being able to follow, through this letter, the topic of Gilbert’s Letter XVIII. He talks with much detail on the appearance of the Loach. I have to be honest and say that I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. He then moves on to the topic of a woman who claimed to have a cure for cancer through the use of toads, he even uses the expression “marvellous cures”. I have usually associated quacks and snake oil salesmen with the Wild West, but I guess there’s no reason we wouldn’t have them here as well. Indeed, I believe the victorians had pretty wild “cures” for various ailments.
Gilbert talking about fish, and me writing about Gilbert writing about fish, is always going to be problematic. I’m going to be a bit hypocritical and say I don’t like handling fish horrible slimy feeling, Yuck. But then I will happily eat cod, haddock, scampi, prawns as long as they are fresh. I “tolerate” salmon, it’s just under the threshold of being too “fishy” in taste. I don’t recall ever eating things like trout or bass.
I wonder if it was because my mum used to love pilchards and sardines and would eat them straight out of the can, whilst I found the sight and the smell disgusting that I developed a dislike of fish in general?
Moving away from my eating habits, we were in the garden yesterday afternoon, I commented to Elayne that it looked lovely and green, I think the word would be verdant. We had moved our seats the previous week to give the grass a chance to recover. The new location seems to suit the local fox which has started using the space behind it as its restaurant, I found feathers and the shell of a chickens egg. Unfortunately, we’ve realised they are now perfect for the starling squadron to perch whilst waiting for their turn at the feeder.
I also noticed that somebody has used one of the tubs of fresh compost as a toilet. Really chaps, come on. That’s Not on.
All the very best
Bill
Bills Posts 