Stormy Weather

[Nick Armstrong]

Various words there: "good" ; "unpretentious" ; "British" ; "stodge" ; "proud".

I think Jonathan Meades could make a six-part series unpacking that lot...

Incidentally - Mother's Pride... sound so different, doesn't it? - as la Fierté de Maman - or Mutterstolz ...

[amateur51]

And, there used to be a very strange delicacy, particularly at Maiden Aunts' funerals, which were strangrely called Bridge Rolls ... either egg & cress or ham & tomato. I suppose now it's more likely to be a selection of Tapas?

Oh good heavens, Anna that's a madeleine moment if ever there was one - Bridge Rolls!

Not that my Nain & her cadre every played bridge - canasta possibly, before arthritis made holding a large hand of cards very difficult and certainly Happy Families ( But NOT Old Maid )

[Nick Armstrong]

Maiden Aunts ... Bridge Rolls

Oh yes! And not only at funerals. My Huddersfield granny's best friends were two spinster sisters (aka 'aunties' aka "The Girls" ) who lived together in Bradford - whenever we went round there: bridge rolls with egg'n'cress, ham'n'tomato... also tinned salmon'n'cucumber! (I think it's 'Bridge' rolls because they could provide sustenance on a side plate on the corner of the card-table during endless games of Bridge, no?)

And the café instantané à la mode du nord of ammy's youth!

All good stuff and it fills me with nostalgia to think of it.

"The Girls" left me their parents' 1911 Bechstein grand which is 6 feet away from me as I type

[Nick Armstrong]

Oh good heavens, Anna that's a madeleine moment if ever there was one - Bridge Rolls!

You too, Ammy!!

[amateur51]

Oh yes! And not only at funerals. My Huddersfield granny's best friends were two spinster sisters (aka 'aunties' aka "The Girls" ) who lived together in Bradford - whenever we went round there: bridge rolls with egg'n'cress, ham'n'tomato... also tinned salmon'n'cucumber! (I think it's 'Bridge' rolls because they could provide sustenance on a side plate on the corner of the card-table during endless games of Bridge, no?)

And the café instantané à la mode du nord of ammy's youth!

All good stuff and it fills me with nostalgia to think of it.

"The Girls" left me their parents' 1911 Bechstein grand which is 6 feet away from me as I type

Cor Calibs that's classy, that is Did that come with the Hispano-Suiza

I bet your movers were pleased when they saw the Bechstein

"And so if the Van Dykes have to go
And we've pawned the Bechstein Grand
We'll stand by the stately homes of England!"

[Anna]

One of the best funerals I went to was ancient Aunt in her 90s. Remarkable woman, adopted three siblings from Barnardos and then her husband died and she had to cope on her own. Anyway, she left money and instructions for the Wake to be held at her cottage with "plenty of sherry and ham" so we repaired there after Church service and burial and landed up playing cricket in the garden. Her mongrel mutt was called Joe-Joe and that is who my teddy bear is named for. I do remember her and the cricket match with great fondness. (I asssume a Madeleine moment is terribly Proustian and not erotic?)

[vinteuil]

I've only got one thing to say: Allez les Bleus!!

... well, of course. But it's confusing when the blues are wearing the English white shirts and the Eye-ties are wearing the blue shirts!

[vinteuil]

terribly Proustian and not erotic?

... the one does not, necessarily, exclude the other.

[BBMmk2]

Sounds as though I havnt lived! Never had 'bridgerolls'!!Gawd!

Rather cold and fresh today.None of that white stuff yet!

[amateur51]

Sounds as though I havnt lived! Never had 'bridgerolls'!!Gawd!

Rather cold and fresh today.None of that white stuff yet!

No snow here yet but the sky is going very light grey

http://www.haylees-lunchbox.co.uk/new/images/uploads/bridge_rolls.jpg

Bridge rolls for your delectation, BBM!

[Serial_Apologist]

Bridge rolls: can't they still be got? I'm sure they have them in the local supermarkets. Maybe they now pass under some different name.

[Serial_Apologist]

No snow here yet but the sky is going very light grey

http://www.haylees-lunchbox.co.uk/new/images/uploads/bridge_rolls.jpg

Bridge rolls for your delectation, BBM!

There you are, see?

[Anna]

... the one does not, necessarily, exclude the other.

I confess, I have never read Proust nor do I like cake. That is probably inexcusable and needs to be rectified. Still snowing, and worrying, two fire engines screaming down the lane Edit: Should I have mentioned Bridge Rolls>

[BBMmk2]

Ah, now I know!! Anna, i am surprised you not watching the rugby Six Nations!!

[vinteuil]

I confess, I have never read Proust nor do I like cake. That is probably inexcusable and needs to be rectified.

I'm not sure. Cake has never been a big thing for me. Proust - well, I was lucky in that I got into him when I was young, and read it through several times before I was thirty. I wouldn't fancy the prospect of starting it all from cold at my current age (nudging 60... ). I'm glad that I absorbed Proust when I did, and, yes, he's been a constant companion.

But most people have a healthier outlook on life.

I, on the other hand... what was it that Logan Pearsall Smith said?

- "People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading... "