One of the duties of the middle aged man is to express their incredulity about things too inconsequential to trouble others. The reducing dimensions of the Wagon Wheel; the demise of cardboard strip supporting the two squat logs of Bounty Bar; people having their phone on full in public; John Redwood.
Even worse than ‘having your phone on full in public’ is being on the other end of the line when you realise the other person is doing this, and that your every thought is being broadcast to (for example) your mum’s doctor’s waiting room.
This line also made me burst out laughing. Thank you for cheering me up after a very dreich week.
@ Dulcie, I'm afraid I also agree with Mark that I would describe red onions as purple, not red. However, describing colours can lead to lots of arguments...
Dec 2, 2022·edited Dec 2, 2022Liked by Mark Diacono
Love your slightly exasperated tone here. I agree with it all, and especially your love of wattleseed which next to Michael Hutchence is the second best thing from Australia.
Every year I have a rant in the fruit aisle at Waitrose when I see the blood oranges renamed ‘Blush’ oranges. Like we can’t handle the gritty reality of citrus life.
my childhood playground turn was to put a whole Wagon Wheel in my mouth and pop it out again on my tongue, then back in again to eat without using my fingers...now I suspect Terry Thomas could do that through his front teeth with the smaller Wagon Wheels
Thank you for this delicious recipe...I love cooking with lavender. The changes middle agedness tends to observes can seem minor in comparison with what the body is up to. Learning not to grumble is such an English quest in this context... I'm with you about the need for a purple onion and so it will be hereafter...
Your emails are very interesting and sometimes even make me laugh. However what you say about the demise of much of traditions especially the Bounty Bar is true, but the shortbread issue is something else altogether and must be regarded as an historical interpretation from medieval times from whence it became ’shortbread’! As below. So rather charming n'est pas?
Took me a while to subscribe to this substack but am glad I did... very enjoyable and inspiring even if I only get 3/4 of the references. Carrying your Spice book in our little shop in Saratoga Springs NY, selling it alongside jars of Burlap & Barrel. Wattleseed new to me but have asked a friend visiting Australia to bring some back for me so we can all try the shortbread. Thanks, Mark!
Thank you Pam, it's lovely that you are here. I remember the weekend of such special people at Cadhay so well. And thank you for sharing SPICE with your part of the world - it means a very great deal. And I'm not sure even my closest friends get many of my references so if you are getting that many I am delighted!
Even worse than ‘having your phone on full in public’ is being on the other end of the line when you realise the other person is doing this, and that your every thought is being broadcast to (for example) your mum’s doctor’s waiting room.
The shame. And in not too many years it will be us doing this equivalent to the offspring (you probably already are)
10,000 Maniac line is a v v good one.
Thank you thank you
This line also made me burst out laughing. Thank you for cheering me up after a very dreich week.
@ Dulcie, I'm afraid I also agree with Mark that I would describe red onions as purple, not red. However, describing colours can lead to lots of arguments...
Thank you thank you thank you
Thank you so much for this and most especially for reminding me of The Invaders, and David Vincent in particular. One of my first ever crushes ...
He was a good looking chap for sure! I was completely enthralled by that series - it was repeated in the early evening on BBC2 when I was a kid
Love your slightly exasperated tone here. I agree with it all, and especially your love of wattleseed which next to Michael Hutchence is the second best thing from Australia.
That's a big knuckle tap right there
Every year I have a rant in the fruit aisle at Waitrose when I see the blood oranges renamed ‘Blush’ oranges. Like we can’t handle the gritty reality of citrus life.
We don't need to have the grim realities of the citrus abattoir hidden from our eyes
Not just my imagination about the wagon wheels then?
my childhood playground turn was to put a whole Wagon Wheel in my mouth and pop it out again on my tongue, then back in again to eat without using my fingers...now I suspect Terry Thomas could do that through his front teeth with the smaller Wagon Wheels
" ... shorter than Danny De Vito’s miniskirt ..." {chef's kiss} ... lovely stuff
thank you
Thank you for this delicious recipe...I love cooking with lavender. The changes middle agedness tends to observes can seem minor in comparison with what the body is up to. Learning not to grumble is such an English quest in this context... I'm with you about the need for a purple onion and so it will be hereafter...
Ah yes, the body, such a disobedient friend. And thank you for the onion solidarity
Hello Mr Mark Diacono
Your emails are very interesting and sometimes even make me laugh. However what you say about the demise of much of traditions especially the Bounty Bar is true, but the shortbread issue is something else altogether and must be regarded as an historical interpretation from medieval times from whence it became ’shortbread’! As below. So rather charming n'est pas?
Keep these coming - Dulcie
PS Red onions are maroon red! Not purple.
Dulcie, you have made my afternoon! That is indeed entirely charming and I am the wiser for you telling me.
PS I'd stills ay purple rather than red!
Took me a while to subscribe to this substack but am glad I did... very enjoyable and inspiring even if I only get 3/4 of the references. Carrying your Spice book in our little shop in Saratoga Springs NY, selling it alongside jars of Burlap & Barrel. Wattleseed new to me but have asked a friend visiting Australia to bring some back for me so we can all try the shortbread. Thanks, Mark!
Thank you Pam, it's lovely that you are here. I remember the weekend of such special people at Cadhay so well. And thank you for sharing SPICE with your part of the world - it means a very great deal. And I'm not sure even my closest friends get many of my references so if you are getting that many I am delighted!
"Shorter than Danny Devito's miniskirt" is a phrase I must work into a sentence soon.
You'll be unsurprised to learn I have more
That is fascinating!