Devon Life

Tonight it's the local Horticultural Society's last event of the year: a decorated pumpkin competition in the Uplyme village hall. My entry's all ready: I am calling him a punkin.

I snaffled a bargain pumpkin at Somerfields in Bridport last weekend - only £1, and just added two old safety pins, cocktail sticks, pine twigs and a few rosehips from the garden for the studs. I'm hoping to recoup the cost by winning a prize - but we shall see what competition I have.

Despite trying pumpkin cooked many ways, I have decided it's just yucky vegetable cotton wool, so after the 31st, this fellow will go on the compost heap to scare the cows. However, I have discovered that you can make the seeds into a delicious snack - something to do when you are using the oven anyway or it would be rather wasteful!

Slip them out of the pulp into a sieve, and wash well. Shake as dry as poss. (not very), stir in a tsp. or so of vegetable or olive oil, and tip into a roasting tin or tray. Roast for about 30 minutes in a medium oven, shaking occasionally. Once they start going pale brown, remove and sprinkle with a pinch or two of salt. Lovely crunchy nibbles!

I've recently returned from a blood donor session - just like Hancock, my arm is empty and I am prohibited from heavy lifting. So I spent 5 mins fettling the tomatoes in the greenhouse, and was rather struck by the light shining through the plants. I took my tiny P&S camera just in case of sudden weakness of the limbs!

Gardener's delight

Chutney, anyone?

It all goes to show that you often don't need to go far to find things to snap, as long as you keep your eyes open.

I am one of the poorer people in this country - after a relatively affluent life when we were both earning well, we now manage on less than the national average and pay little tax (the positive aspect of a low income!).

It is surprising how well one can live, by cooking from fresh ingredients, eschewing ready-made food and cutting down on meat, by realising that a few second-hand clothes from charity shops will actually do quite well, and not being obsessed by keeping up with everyone else in terms of consumer electronics, new cars, holidays, and general pointless acquisition of stuff. Of course, we are very lucky to have paid off the mortgage some years ago, so council tax is the biggest monthly expenditure, closely followed by fuel.

Now to the real point of my post. I am relatively poor compared to many people in this country, and the average Briton is relatively poor compared to all those annoyingly overpaid, over-pensioned and insular politicians who make the policies that have real effects on our lives that they are in no position to understand.

But looking in the other direction, everyone in Britain is almost unimaginably wealthy and privileged compared to all the people in the Third World living on a dollar a day or less. They really don't know how they are going to eat in the next few days, let alone worrying about education and healthcare for their children, clean water and proper sanitation. All those things that even the poorest UK citizen can take for granted.

So, next time I think of opening my mouth and saying it would be nice if I had a bit extra to spend on something I don't actually need to survive, I hope I will recall this entry and close my mouth promptly, counting my very many blessings.

All work and no play...

So, what shall I do on this glorious day?

Crouch at my desk, typing and reading,
Or walk in the sunshine, scuffing the leaves?

No contest really - I'm on my way,
On with my wellingtons, lock the back door,
Past late blooming flowers and off down the lane.
Squinting in sunlight, peering through mist,
Admiring the cobwebs all silver with dew,
Until it is time to go homewards again.

Now back in the office - oh, what shall I do?
Skive off a bit longer, and write this for you!

National Poetry Day - although this is more doggerel than poetry.