Packing it in

Today

As is usual for this time of year, at least in David's world, there is a glut of courgettes/marrows. Having mentioned something about this on Facebook, it now appears that he is committed to sending a courgette (just one?) to our niece Andie up in the Midlands.

I don't know the best way of packing up a courgette so that it won't get bruised or crushed (will bubblewrap do the business?) and it'll have to be sent first class to ensure that "straight from the garden" freshness.

In My Day

Mamma was never one for forgetting birthdays and anniversaries and we could guarantee that each wedding anniversary would produce a highly appropriate gift.

In 1975 we had just moved to Rowan Avenue when our fourth anniversary came round. I'm not very good at the detail of anniversary meanings, only knowing silver, pearl, gold etc with any certainty, so when a somewhat squashed cardboard box arrived from Mamma for our anniversary, I was very excited and very curious.

We opened up the box together. Inside, residing lopsidedly on some kitchen paper, was a pineapple. It seems that the fourth anniversary is "fruit and flowers" and Mamma thought that a pineapple would be just the thing.

Two problems, tho'. Firstly, it was clear that she hadn't quite mastered the art of packing it, because half of it was quite crushed. Secondly, I suspect that she'd sent it parcel post, pineapples being rather heavy, and this one was now well beyond its "use by" date and the half that wasn't crushed was mildewed.

We thanked Mamma as enthusiastically as we could, rather regretting our lost pineapple, and never had the temerity to ask her why she hadn't just taken the easy option and send flowers via Interflora!