Boxing Day - Sue Northcott
Father's Day Menu - Doug Essinger-Hileman
Boxing Day - Sue Northcott
When asked about a cream tea on Boxing Day, Sue replied thus...
Never heard of anyone having a cream tea on Boxing Day, though, more like cold turkey sandwiches and Christmas cake. We need another day off to recover from the excesses of Christmas Day, just as the Scots have an extra day after New Year.
They used to hunt the wren (the king of birds) here, especially on the Gower Peninsular, and parade it from house to house in a special box. You can still see the ceremony and hear the songs, from time to time, but now without the bird. All this was in the hope of getting even more alcohol from your neighbours.
We still keep the custom of the Christmas 'Box'. It's usual to give a small gift (usually alcohol, what a surprise!), or an amount of money, to tradespeople who regularly call at your house. So there'll be a few pounds for the paperboy, and some whisky for the milkman, the coalman, etc...
Father's Day Menu - Doug Essinger-Hileman
Today my wife and children prepared the Fathers' Day menu I had requested: grilled chicken, roasted corn and tomato salad, fresh green beans with cheese sauce, and fresh fruit over shortcake for dessert. The whole meal was set off nicely by a bottle of Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet, 1999 vintage.
Which it's the Patrick O'Brian list of the world!