January 2019 - Savour the Moment

21 January 2019

The Tradition of the Clayworth Plough Plays

An image of three of the main protagonists, the Clown, the Sergeant and Eezum-Squeezum

Plough Monday

Plough Monday can be traced right back to medieval times. It traditionally saw the return to work after the break for Christmas, especially in northern and eastern England. The traditions for Plough Monday varied from village to village. Plough Monday was originally the first Monday after the twelfth day of Christmas, 6 January. Epiphany.

A unique tradition

The tradition very nearly disappeared during World War 1 and then again in the Second World War. Credit is due to the players and the landlords of both village pubs for upholding this unique tradition.

The Sergeant in his bright red coat — Enter the Sergeant

Plough Sunday

Naturally, the day before Plough Monday is not surprisingly known as Plough Sunday. This tradition more often than not, now takes place in Clayworth, North Nottinghamshire, on the third Sunday of January.

The death of the earth

In medieval times and in the dead of winter it was thought that the earth ‘died’ and there was a possibility that nothing would ever grow again. It was difficult to believe that the earth would ever wake up and again provide food..

A battle between Light and Dark, Good and Evil, Life and Death

I am lucky enough to live in the village of Clayworth in north Nottinghamshire, England where the most well-known of these plays still takes place. The ‘script’ is usually a bit of nonsense but has a hidden, topical message somewhere within. A pretend battle is fought between Light and Darkness. Darkness is killed and then brought back to life by some miracle. The death of the Old Year and the arrival of the New Year is symbolised in this tableau.

The village pubs

This year the play was performed as usual in the surrounding villages on the Friday before Plough Sunday.

The Blacksmith’s Arms in Clayworth https://www.blacksmithsclayworth.com/ and the Brewers Arms, also in Clayworth, http://www.brewersarmsclayworth.co.uk/ both play host to the Plough Play on Plough Sunday.

An image of The Blacksmith’s Arms, one of Clayworth’s pubs to host the Plough Play — The Blacksmith’s Arms, one of Clayworth’s pubs which hosts the Plough Play

An image of the Brewer’s Arms, one of Clayworth’s pubs to host the Plough Play — The Brewer’s Arms at Clayworth who also play Bost to the Plough Play

It gets very busy

The bar at the Brewers’ begins to fill from 12.15pm and by 12.45pm when the players arrive, it is absolutely heaving. Get there early, get a drink and a seat… and if you think ahead book for Sunday lunch, you won’t be disappointed.

Old Eezum-Squeezum

A fiddler and an accordionist enter the pub, followed at different times by the players: the Clown, the Plough ‘boy’, the ‘Horse’, the Soldier, Old Eezum-Squeezum (sometimes known as Beelzebub), and the Doctor. Sounds bizarre and yes it is, but highly entertaining and amusing with rhymes and short songs which have been passed down through the years. There is even a sword dance!

It was once common for those who took part in these plays to blacken their faces as a disguise. They might also include something to associate with nature in their costumes such as a flower or feathers.

A Morris-cum-Sword dance takes place in a very confined space — A Morris/Sword dance in a confined space

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Click here for a taster

Eezum-Squeezum lies dead on the floor surrounded by all the other Plough Players — Eezum-Squeezum – dead on the floor!

It’s a miracle!

The climax of the play is the fight between Light and Dark, Good and Evil, Life and Death. It culminates in the slaying of Darkness (Old Eezum-Squeezum) – who is usually brought back to life by ‘the Doctor’ – and everyone lives happily ever after – with a pint in hand!

An image of Bessie singing her lament — Bessie… or Bill Oddie!

Good luck, fertility and wealth

The play brings together farmers and villagers. The purpose of the play is to bring luck, fertility and wealth. You need to be there in order to get your share, so put the date in your diary for 2020!

14 January 2019

Quick and Easy Super-Soup Recipes

Vibrant veggie soup, Spiced Cerliac and Parsnip alongside Spinach and Pea soup

Two quick and easy, super-soups, both veggie, both delicious, nutritious and low in fat… and low-carb too.

Spiced, Celeriac and Parsnip Soup

Approximately 150 calories per mug-full.

Makes enough for 6 servings, freeze it and that’s several lunches for a ‘behave yourself’ kind of diet sorted.

The equipment you will need:

a sharp veg prep knife and chopping board
a large soup pan
a wooden spoon
a hand blender

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion peeled and chopped
2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped
Half a celeriac, washed, peeled and chopped
A sprinkle of chilli flakes
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Few shakes of white pepper
Few twists of ground black pepper
A sprinkle of sea salt
2 veg stock cubes I used https://www.oxo.co.uk/ made up into 1 litre of stock

Step 1

Peel and chop the veg

Step 2

Heat the oil. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes until translucent. Add the diced cleriac and parsnip. Cover and cook on a low heat until the veg is tender about 5 minutes. Add the hot stock, stir well, cover and cook for 10 further minutes. Add the seasoning except the chilli flakes. Stir well. Cover and cook until all veg is tender.

Step 3

Remove from the heat. Blitz with a hand-blender. Sprinkle a few chilli flakes on each serving. Serve hot, or portion and freeze when cold.

And next Easy, Peasy, Spinach (and anything else in the fridge that’s green) Soup

Pea and Spinach soup with a swirl of Greek yogurt

Again about 150 calories per mu-full

You will need exactly the same equipment as for the Spiced Cerliac and Parsnip soup.

Makes enough for approximately 6 servings

Ingredients

400g (ish) frozen peas
1 large pack of fresh, baby spinach
Any salad leaves, watercress, rocket that might be lurking in the fridge begging not to be thrown away
1 clove of garlic, grated
1 litre of veg stock
A sprinkle of seasalt
A shake of white pepper
Freshly ground black pepper
Optional – Half a teaspoon of dried mint

A dollop of Greek yogurt to serve if desired.

Step 1

Put all the I gradients in a pan. Bring to simmering point. Do not over cook. Allow 3 or 4 minutes to simmer. Blitz with a hand blender.

Step 2

Serve with a dollop of Greek yorgurt if desired, or freeze for later in the week.

4 January 2019

The Sheer Joy of a Starling Murmuration

The beginnings of a starling murmuration. Photo credit: Eric Richardson

A murmuration is a must see

Starlings swooping then breaking off into separate groups. Photo credit: Eric Richardson

I have wanted to witness a murmuration ever since I saw Bill Oddie on tv conducting starlings over the Somerset Levels about ten years ago. Yesterday gave us the perfect opportunity. We needed to take our two grandchildren home and it was good to share the spectacle with them. A minor detour on the way home and a stop-off at Attenborough Nature Reserve http://www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk/. It was a cold, greyish afternoon. Not what was forecast – crisp and clear.

Click here to see:A few moments of a starling murmuration

What is a murmuration?

A murmuration is a mass, aerial display of thousands of birds which swoop and dive in unison. Starlings in particular, do it for a variety of reasons: they fly together to provide safety in numbers, they roost together for warmth, and of course they have a chance to have a natter together – also predators find it hard to catch a particular bird in a flock of thousands.

The light fades as the starlings get ready to roost. Photo credit: Eric Richardson

Foreign starlings swell the numbers

The numbers of birds swell as the winter deepens. The amount of starlings in one roost can rise to around 100,000. Large numbers of starlings visit us during the winter months from overseas, to take advantage of our warmer climate!

Just as the sun sets

The optimum time to see them across the UK is around dusk in winter. Binoculars are not usually required as, if you are in the right spot, the aerial display will take place directly above your head – although you may need an umbrella! Seaside piers, reedbeds and buildings are favourite congregating places as the sun sets.

Sadly, starling numbers are in decline

Forty years ago starlings would gather in great numbers over city rooftops but now the numbers are fewer and they are more likely to be seen in rural areas.

Starling murmurations

Flocks of starlings arrive from all around, they come together in the sky above the roosting site. As the numbers of starlings swell the murmuration creates shapes in the sky, the shapes grow as the flocks merge together. And then, when the light fades, they seem to decide as one that it is time to settle in for the night. They descend and that’s it, the performance is over.

The gathering starlings in the twilight. Photo credit: Eric Richardson

The children saw a banana, an avacado, a fish, a worm, a motorbike…

Check the RSPB https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/. Wildlife Trust https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/ websites to find a murmuration near you. The murmuration season lasts until the middle/end of February. See one of the greatest shows on earth. It’s free, it’s nature and it’s somewhere near you.