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Friday 12 June 2020

More from the bunker



I went for a walk in the woods this morning as the sun was shining  but we were forecast to have rain this afternoon.  I waited for a man with a dog to pass me at the junction of the paths and we spoke a few words as you do.  He was carrying some sticks of rhubarb and I jokingly said that I was sure he hadn't foraged those in the wood to which he replied that there was a house nearby which often put the stuff outside with an honesty box for a local charity.  I said I would have to go and have a look sometime but not this morning as I had no money with me and a moment of two later as he departed he turned back and gave me a couple of sticks.  I refused but he was adamant and said he'd feel guilty if he kept it all for himself and so I continued my walk carrying not only my old stick (a piece of branch I found some years ago and got Mr M to cut to the correct length for me even though I do have a proper walking ploe) in one hand but the rhubarb in the other. We get to recognise each other in our little wood and all say hello or good morning and some of us stop for a chat too but we don't know each other's names.  I can imagine people referring to me as that eccentric old woman with the stick who wears tattered jeans and an old coat but now they'll think me even weirder as they can tell each other she was carrying two sticks of rhubarb the other morning!  I wonder if the man would have given them to me if I had been 40 and well dressed or did he think "poor old dear on her own" as he said "If you are on your own it might be enough for something".

Free Rhubarb Cliparts, Download Free Clip Art, Free Clip Art on ...

So I returned home with my bounty and the knowledge of where I might be able to get some more if I remembered my purse next time.  I cooked the rhubarb in the oven and it was plenty for me with some fresh yoghurt and Mr M had the remains of the Eve's pudding I'd made yesterday and there is enough rhubarb to make us both a rhubarb puff pastry tartlet tomorrow.  We get our foodstuff where we can these days!!  

I did wonder later what one of my friends who thinks I am not careful enough about sanitising things like the post or my shopping or books swapped with neighbours would have to say about my accepting the gift handled by someone I don't know who might not have washed his hands before collecting the rhubarb and then carrying it in my hand and bringing it into the house and cooking it with a just desultory wipe with a damp cloth beforehand. 

Not only did I not have a purse with me this morning but I didn't take my camera either so the photo at the top of this post is an old one of the spot where I was given the rhubarb and the other image is a clip art one and not the 2 sticks I was given!!

8 comments:

  1. I dont like the thought of sanitising your rhubarb! But I do spray all my mail, not sure if it is actually effective.

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    1. I am curious to know what do you spray your mail with that doesn't make it all damp?

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  2. People do want to be kind, like that man you met on your walk. How lovely to be able to walk in the woods.
    I have not sanitized any groceries, beyond what I usually do - washing produce and wiping tin lids before opening them - nor do I sanitize any mail or other objects that come into the house.
    Our Island has now been declared Covid-19 free, although precautions such as limits of people in stores are still in place.

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  3. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed your rhubarb, and no I don't think I would be sanitising it either. Do you really need to if you are going to cook it. Your description of how others think of you made me smile, I am sure that I am the weird eccentric lady in my village too!

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  4. Your photos of the woods is calming and beautiful.
    Dare say though, meeting up with anyone along a walk in the woods would scare me. You are brave.

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    1. Out of doors and all keeping our distace it's not a problem. There is a new dance we all do where one walker steps to one side and the other to another greetings are exchanged and then we continue on our separate ways!

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  5. The mention of rhubarb takes me back to childhood and a big clump of rhubarb in our garden. We didn't get much candy from day to day but there was always dessert after our midday meal. Rhubarb with custard was a regular on the my mum's menu. I occasionally see it here but not often. Nice of that man to share with little ole you! In my head I'm still only half the age my face and body show but I'm sure I'm seen by many as another not-so-litte (tall!)old lady. As long as we don't look in mirrors we can carry on being the age we feel!

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  6. You managed to make a lot out of two sticks! As long as you washed your hands after handling the rhubarb you should be okay. :)

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