when we were young- [Added April, 07, 2008]

as i was weighing up today whether i really needed that yoghurt, i remembered meal times at my godparents house.  he was a carpenter, and she was, and is an incredible 'home maker', mum and grandma.  she went into service at fourteen, and many of her recipes, and much of her outlook in life comes from Victorian England.  They ate breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and often, supper.  All of these meals were made with local ingredients, or came from her own garden.  

Yes, they burned off a lot of those calories with work, gardening, cleaning and general activity, as neither of them were overweight.  but what i really remember is the fact that they loved their food, loved it.  it was a thing of joy, to be relished, shared and celebrated, not agonised over, debated or resented.  

perhaps this is because they remembered rationing too well, and knew what hardship was.  perhaps it was simply living through another era, a time without our superabundance. 

after a few hours of churning it over, i've come to the conclusion that this is actually because they were viewed food as part of their environment.  they knew where it came from, what could be made for it, and the best times to eat it.  gooseberries (which I hated then, and still do), were anticipated with relish, as were the new banty eggs, the rich, heavy broth that only comes from an old boiler hen, brambles, new peas, homemade bread and butter for supper.  

i could go, on.  but that would be boring.  i might have that yoghurt.