Paradise Regained

Believe it or not, these are birds of paradise seeds. Germination of these seeds is rated as "a challenge" and the packet notes "experience necessary".

Undaunted, I set to sowing them following the step by step guide:

1. Remove orange tuft.
2. Soak for up to 24 hours.
3. Press seeds into moist sand.
4. Place inside polythene bag.
5. Put in warm dark place.
6. Wait.

Remarkably, about six weeks later, the seeds have sprouted. I'm not really expecting my luck to hold on this front but I've potted them up in good seed compost and am now prepared to wait the four or more years that it may take for them to flower...

Watch this space!

Fungi Foray

Yesterday morning we set off on a fungi foray on Hampstead Heath. Andy, the fungi-to-be-with, showed us some of the best places to find mushrooms and other fungus - shady corners with well-drained soil and newly fallen trees.

There wasn't much to be had given the week of dry weather but we returned home with a lovely slimy jew's ear, some oyster mushrooms and a handful of St George's (so-called because they appear around 23rd April).

Amongst the inedible specimens, we found blushing brackets, maze gill brackets and King Arthur's Cakes.

Skene fried up the edible mushrooms with the wild garlic leaves that we had also picked and lots of butter and we had a delicious lunch of conchiglie con funghi - Antonio Carluccio would have been proud of us.

Merlin meets Tina

We had been warned that rabbits often fight upon being introduced and so took the necessary precautions in starting the bonding process when introducing Merlin to his new companion, Tina.

First, we put the carrier cage containing Tina on the floor next to Merlin's hutch and let them look at each other warily. Next, we had Merlin under the wire lid of his hutch and Tina in an adjacent pen, in our bedroom where Merlin had never been before - neutral territory. After half an hour of them sniffing around at their novel location, we removed the hutch lid and let them encounter each other properly.

Remarkably, it was love at first sight for Merlin. He chased Tina, flopped on his side, paws in the air in euphoria, quacked and squelched delightedly. Tina was not so sure and ran rings around Merlin, desperately trying to escape his attentions.

Fortunately, Tina eventually decided to tolerate Merlin and their new shared home. Now we just have to persuade Tina to like us too...

Passport Stamps

I've been having some fun this afternoon with passportstamp.com - logging my overseas travel with a view to finding out how close my ambition to conquer the world is to being met.

As you can see from the map below, there are some large portions of the globe still to be visited. Russia, Africa and South East Asia, in particular, look like they are in need of some attention. I shall look forward to that...

Ethical Eating

My ethical eating challenge began most enjoyably with a visit to the Three Fishes at Mitton.

This new restaurant in an old pub focuses on providing locally sourced food and uses organic ingredients wherever possible. Grandpa's steak came from a Bowland Forest bull and the sheep which donated Ian's shoulder of mutton had been reared in the Ribble Valley. Meanwhile, my fish platter and Jennifer's fish pie included Morecambe Bay shrimps and other delicacies purchased from the fishmonger in Clitheroe. Perhaps best of all though were the desserts, all served with custard, cream or ice cream made with milk from Simpson's Farm, just down the lane from Grandpa's cottage in Dinckley.

The next day, feeling inspired, I went foraging with Grandpa in the field. We picked dandelions for Merlin (which he devoured as though he hadn't eaten for a week) and nettles for me which were used in a delicious fry up with (not so locally sourced) feta and black eyed beans.

I've signed up for a weekly vegetable box from Abel & Cole too. Abel & Cole don't seem to be quite so good with their food miles (some of it is shipped in from overseas) but at least it's all organic. Treats so far have included new season's asparagus and two lovely globe artichokes (delicious with smoked garlic aioli).

Hopefully, I'll be able to supplement the box with my own homegrown vegetables later in the year. The vegetable plot has been sown with peas, spring onions and rocket and there's tomatoes and chilli plants germinating in the propagator. I'm now torn between hoping for a sunny summer and praying for lots of rain.