Monday 18 June 2018

Self indulgence.

Nothing I ate today seemed to satisfy me but as the day wore on I began to fancy fish and chips.   It is at least a year since I had them and not something I usually enjoy.    But at half past four Tess and I jumped into the car and drove the mile into the town centre, parked and I bought myself fish, chips and mushy peas - we went back home and ate them - Tess having half a dozen chips and quite a large piece of my cod, but without the batter.    They were not the best I had ever tasted but they satisfied a need, and sometimes - when one lives alone - it is necessary to do just that.

Now I intend to watch Michael Portillo crossing America by train  and that is followed by a new farming series, so I shall watch that too.   Some days I miss the farmer more than others - or let's say I think about him more, and today is one of those days.   How I wish he were here but he isn't and I can't change how things are.   Now our sympathies must go out to Sue in Suffolk who is doing her very best to come to terms with losing her beloved Col.

What a good place Blogland is when one makes these 'friendships' - there is a whole network of support out there and it is good to be able to call on it.

20 comments:

Sue in Suffolk said...

Thank you Pat.

With Fish and chips the anticipation is often better than the eating I find!

Jules said...

I don't eat them often either, but I always think fish and chips taste better when eaten by the sea.
I hope both Sue and yourself find support from our warm wishes. X

Rachel Phillips said...

I agree with Sue, anticipation is often better than the eating. The old days of fish and chips fried in beef dripping are gone and along with it the best fish and chips.

Derek Faulkner said...

Rarely do fish 'n chips these days taste like they did when we were young, except the excellent ones served up the last time I was at Rick Stein's shop in Padstow - cooked in beef dripping.

Sue said...

I've got a craving for fish and chips now!

justjill said...

My craving is a Macdonalds quarter pounder with cheese which I havent had for about 4 years. Fortunately no Macdonalds near here! I often think of both you and Sue and cannot imagine what it must be like to lose your partner. Something I often dread happening. But both of your battles to carry on have my deep admiration.

angryparsnip said...

The second you said Fish and Chips I thought of The Farmer. I remember you saying he would rater have Fish and Chips than anything.

cheers, parsnip

Living Alone in Your 60's said...

I confess to buying just chips the other evening when we had been out all day. I brought them home and poached eggs to have with them. Yum.

Heather said...

Sometimes only fish and I do. I think they are best eaten out of doors and from the paper, preferably at the seaside where there is no-one who knows you!
So pleased that you and Sue can offer each other comfort when needed.x

the veg artist said...

We had to move into town when I was 7. The only consolation, as far as I was concerned, was that there were two fish-and-chip shops nearby. Served in newspaper, of course!

Virginia said...

So often F&C are not as good in the reality as the imagination, are they. When I was young we used to have individual packets and I always thought they tested much better than the ones when Mum divied the family pack out between us, and on plates, for goodness sake! No wonder they didn't taste as good!

I would think that watching TV programmes the Farmer would have enjoyed too must be bitter-sweet. We talk during documentary type shows, and we too enjoy the Michael Portillo series. Do you get the Arts channel? There are often super documentary type programmes on there. In fact, we rarely watch the regular channels now. Unfortunately, over here, you have to buy the really big Sky package to be able to add on the Arts channel.

I hope tomorrow is a good day for you Pat, and you too Sue. Hugs to you both

Joanne Noragon said...

I think fish and chips and mushy peas from an English take out would be divine. Divine!

Sue said...

As they say 'a little bit if what you fancy ... '

Whenever we get the cravings for fish and chips we go into Llandudno, buy them and sit on the prom to eat them. There's something about sea air that makes them twice as nice, and yes, our dogs get a few sneaky chips too 😊

Blog world is a good place for support, I hope Sue knows how much we all think about her now and miss her happier days with Col. But she seems to be making really good efforts as she finds her 'new normal'. The same support that hopefully you felt when you lost the Farmer.

You also are a brilliant example to others of how to move forward, claim your own place in the world and just get on with things on a day to day basis. I'm amazed by both of you lovely ladies.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

Even though we are strangers and may live in different countries, we can come here and relate with each other and and be treated with empathy, kindness, and support. When used in this way, Blogger is at it’s best.

Gwil W said...

I wonder what they cost these days. I can remember buying a bag of chips fried in lard for three old pennies. I think you have to check EU chips against an EU colour chart. Do they display these in the chip shops or is only the fish and chip police that have them?

Rachel Phillips said...

I used to be given a 10/- note in the early '60s to get fish and chips for 6 of us. A piece of fish was a shilling.

Librarian said...

Usually when I am in Ripon for my annual Yorkshire holiday, I have fish & chips at least once. And this year, I even had some at my big birthday bash - I rented "my" pub for the event and so the kitchen was entirely at my beck an call, too. It was nice!

I know what you mean about missing your late husband more some days than others. When I was on the train home from O.K.'s on Sunday night, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me, and I silently cried for good part of the trip. It was especially strange since I had just come from a wonderful weekend with O.K. Maybe it made me realise how much love I already had in my life, and how happy I can really call myself for having found it again.

Bea said...

When I was still little, our fish and chips were wrapped in newspaper. Somewhere along the way, that practice was banned. --hard now around these parts to find any fish and chips, regardless of wrap!

I occasionally hanker for a pork burrito. Living off of Mission Blvd in San Francisco, I can very easily find what I'm after.

The Weaver of Grass said...

To Jill and to Librarian I would say that losing one's husband has happened to me twice.
The first time after thirty nine years, the second after twenty three - both very, very happy marriages. It doesn't get easier - I miss them both in different ways - the farmer - being the most recent of the two - seems much more real to me than my first dear husband, M - but that doesn't mean I don't miss him too. But I count myself very lucky to have found such love not once but twice.

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