A Seasonal Let Down

After all the seasonal anticipation back in the spring when Nigel was keeping a beady eye on the emerging blackberry blossom, followed slowly by the appearance of clusters of tiny green fruit buds, it is sad to announce that Darrell’s epic blackberry and apple crumbles will not be found gracing (with custard) any of our Sunday lunch tables in the coming weeks …….. without, I am afraid, the intervention of a shop bought nature!

This years crop promised much and earlier than we expected, although a little on the sour side, which, according to our resident blackberry expert, just needed a really good dose of hot summer sun to reach their full juicy potential and then it would be old ice cream containers at dawn to collect them.

However, at the all important time, we got two weekends of battering storms and torrential rain instead, which Nigel now puts down to the withered and dried offerings on the brambles that once showed so much said promise

There are a few to pick, but they are not as plump and juicy as Darrell would have liked and of course, the plumpest ones that managed to survive the inclement weather and embrace the sun, when it eventually reappeared, are all now at the top, where Nigel can’t reach!

Something, for once, I don’t suppose, we can blame the flipping virus for, but disappointing for our tums and our bragging rights when we have guests, when Darrell’s brings out his crumble with a flourish. to announce that most of the contents were hand picked from the abounding bushes of Evesham!  Oh well, perhaps 2021 will promise more!