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Marmalade, beetroot and an adventurous advent
IT all started with the desperate need to defrost an old freezer. It was so solid that it was beginning to be impossible to get things in or out.
It was filled with UFOs - Unidentified Frozen Objects. Left over cocktail sausage rolls from last Christmas and weird lonely peas, raspberries and crumbs. The theory is simple, take everything out, get rid of the things that are a year out of date at least, and wonder, "Is that a fish finger or a leg of venison?"
Right at the bottom emerged a whole bag of Seville Oranges. I had made marmalade at the beginning of the year and had sworn I would come back to the frozen bags a.s.a.p.
Of course it never happened. Life got in the way. But now here was the bag of rapidly defrosting oranges. What the heck, I thought, I might as well add to the 101 things I have to do and embark on the time consuming business of marmalade making.
The thing is we all love marmalade. We never buy cheap stuff, or anything that is light coloured and thin cut. Like the Christmas cake saga, marmalade is judged with points awarded as to star quality.
I'm exaggerating, but we do love it. Have you ever been on holiday abroad when the hotel lays out apricot jam instead of marmalade? You think it is marmalade and then it isn't! Breakfast ruined!
Marmalade even played a part in a mind-reading incident. When my brothers and I were keeping a vigil at my sister's death bed, the nurses were looking after us every bit as well as they were looking after her. We were so grateful.
On the last morning, they brought us in some tea, toast and jam. They were being so kind that I wouldn't have dreamed of asking for anything else. But one of the nurses looked right into my eyes and said "You'd like marmalade wouldn't you?" I couldn't believe it - exactly the thing to make me feel better. For a moment at least!
Back to the recent time. By the time I got round to it, it was too late to do the whole job, so I decided to tackle it in stages. The only recipe I use is the Aga "Idiots' guide to Marmalade." First step, soak and boil up whole oranges for a while. Search for jam jars and check that they don't still smell of pickled onions or olives. They do smell of odd things and the labels are still on because labels just don't slip off anymore. So back into the washing machine for nice hot, sterile and smell free jam jars.
The process of marmalade is all scraping of peel, straining, boiling, boiling and boiling. It turned out very well indeed. When it is fresh, we have it all the time, breakfast, lunch and tea. Then I start boasting and Andy starts giving it away until we have none left.
This was going to be a weekend of Christmas Cards and Christmas preparation, but marmalade and then beetroot got in the way. We dug up the remnants of the veggie patch only to find loads of beetroots begging to be pickled and bottled.
Procrastinators are not usually lazy people, they are just people who are always doing other things than the things they need to do.
Advent has started. It is interesting that I made marmalade yesterday because I always give up tea, toast and marmalade every Lent and Advent. I know it's a bit silly, and I would be far better doing good works, but its something I've done for years, and it does make them all the sweeter when the big feast days arrive.
This week I am running a workshop for some busy professionals on how to make the Christmas Season stress free and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to that, because I do think that Christmas is one of the best times of the year, and yet there seems to be so much angst around it. The workshop will be colourful and fun with an unbelievable magic trick which I have just learned. My magician friend has taught me and it is a corker. My only trick!
Advent is supposed to be a time for waiting and preparation. But that preparation is not just for scoffing and spoiling but preparation for being a better person.
I heard a clergyman point out that Advent is the first part of Adventure. Now there is a thought for you. Advent is preparation for a great adventure. I hope there will be some marmalade left for me while I am on my travels!
- Jo Middlemiss is a personal life coach who lives in Edzell. If you'd like to talk over any of life's challenges you can give her a ring on (01356) 648 329.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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