Autumn Days

My favourite hymn at primary school – Autumn Days by Estelle White:

Autumn days, when the grass is jewelled
And the silk in a chestnut shell
Jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled
All these things I love so well

(Chorus)

So I mustn’t forget
No, I mustn’t forget
To say a great big thank you
No, I mustn’t forget.

Clouds that look like familiar faces
And winter’s moon with frosted rings
Smell of bacon as I fasten up my laces
And the milkman sings.

Whipped–up spray that is rainbow–scattered
And a swallow curving in the sky
Shoes go comfy though they’re worn out and they’re battered
And the taste of apple pie.

Scent of gardens when the rain’s been falling
And a minnow darting down a stream
Picked–up engine that’s been stuttering and stalling
And a win for my home team.

Autumn
is my favourite season and I was feeling particuarlly autumnal this
weekend because we went to the farmers’ market in Stratford and stocked
up on all kinds of seasonal local goodies including:

• bags and bags of apples
• a saddle of venison^*
• pork and apple sausages
• an entire carrier bag of veg (cabbage, french beans, celeriac) for a bargain £2
• gorgeous fresh bread

Then, last night I made Toad in the Hole with onion gravy. …and even though I say so myself, it was spanking.

And
yesterday lunchtime we went to the French market in Leamington and had
tartiflette and cassoulet for lunch folowed by crepes.

The market is from Brittanny so there are loads of Produit de Bretagne–marked goods including excellent cider.

Which reminded us that we really ought to organise a shopping visit to France for before Christmas. Always on the list are:

• Lentilles preparés
• Creme de cassis etc. for kirs
• Raclette
• Magrets de canard
• Pont L’Eveque
• Munster
• Cassoulet
• Haricots verts
• Saucissons de Toulouse
• Harrissa
• Merguez
• Gewurtztraminer
• Tartes flambées
• Cremant
• Cahors

^{*I’ve made a damson and red wine sauce for the venison,
but I am going to have to clean the oven – by the time I’d finished the
Toad it was smoking like a bastard.}

^{AUTUMN TREES IMAGE COURTESY OF MY GARDEN}