Mespilus

Torrential rain last night and everything is looking very soggy this morning. I decided to harvest my medlars!! Quite an impressive crop and what a strange fruit. I've done a little research. The slang name for them is 'open-arse' - Chaucer, so that has to be allowed! As Americans apparently say - go figure!! Now I have to put them in a box and leave them for at least three weeks in a dry, dark place to let them 'blett' - ie go rotten. Then they should be of a custardy texture and can be eaten direct with a runciple spoon or make into interesting things like jelly or butter! Medlars were very popular in Elizabethan and Victorian times and were a symbol for prostitution being rotten before they were ripe!! They're related to quinces and have a nice little bloom to them. I like them.

We watched Gran Torino last night - appalling, not even saved by Clint Eastwood. Tonight Arthouse is a French comedy (??) - Heartbreaker with Vanessa Paradis - a comedy would be good as the last few offerings have been very heavy.